Hyperandrogenemia in patients presenting with acne.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether acne is associated with hyperandrogenemia, regardless of age of presentation.


METHODS
Prospective controlled study.


METHODS
Tertiary-care medical center.


METHODS
Thirty consecutive unselected women presenting with acne and no hirsutism and 24 eumenorrheic healthy controls.


METHODS
Serum samples was taken in all patients, and an acute 60-minute ACTH-(1-24) test was performed in 19 patients.


METHODS
Total and free T, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and DHEAS levels in basal samples, and ACTH-stimulated 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-HP) response to exclude 21-hydroxylase (21-OH)-deficient nonclassic adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH) were determined.


RESULTS
Nonhirsute patients with acne demonstrated significantly lower levels of SHBG and higher free-T and DHEAS levels than controls. Nineteen (63%) acneic patients had at least one androgen value above the 95% of controls. In patients aged 12-18 years, 7/8 (88%) had at least one increased androgen value, compared with 12/22 (55%) patients aged 19-43 years. One patient (5.3%) was found to have 21-OH-deficient NCAH.


CONCLUSIONS
Hyperandrogenemia was evident in a majority of nonhirsute acneic patients studied, regardless of age. These data suggest that androgen suppression may be useful in treating acne in many of these patients.
Slayden
S M
SM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35249-7333, USA.
Moran
C
C
Sams
W M
WM
Boots
L R
LR
Azziz
R
R
D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000097:blood; D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000728:Androgens; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone