title: Acne and hirsutism in polycystic ovary syndrome: clinical, endocrine-metabolic and ultrasonographic differences.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the absence or presence of acne or hirsutism in 248 women with polycystic ovary syndrome was associated with different clinical, endocrine, metabolic and ultrasonographic factors. Patients were divided into three groups: 96 (38.7%) without any androgenic symptoms; 94 (37.9%) with only hirsutism; and 58 (23.4%) with only acne. The cycle alterations (oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea) and the echographic ovarian morphology (polycystic or multifollicular ovaries) showed no significant differences between the three groups. Hirsutism was associated with a greater incidence of obesity and insulin resistance, with an increase of 17-hydroxyprogesterone, ovarian and adrenal androgens, 3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I and low luteinizing hormone, sex hormone binding globulins and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 levels. Acne was associated only with the lowest 3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide levels. Therefore, two different pathogenetic mechanisms may play a role in the onset of acne and hirsutism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Falsetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gambera
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andrico
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sartori
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000209:etiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000097:blood; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D009839:Oligomenorrhea; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone