Ovarian function during puberty in girls with type 1 diabetes mellitus: response to leuprolide.
BACKGROUND
An increased prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been reported in adult women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). We investigated whether these hormonal abnormalities begin during puberty by evaluating the ovarian steroidogenic response to leuprolide acetate.


METHODS
We studied 56 adolescent girls with DM1 (aged 12.3 +/- 0.2 yr) and 64 healthy girls (C) (aged 11.9 +/- 0.2 yr) up to 2 yr post menarche, matched by age, body mass index, and pubertal development. We evaluated anthropometrical data and Ferriman-Gallway score and performed a leuprolide test (500 microg sc) to study ovarian function. Ovarian volume was determined by transabdominal ultrasonography.


RESULTS
We found five DM1 but no C girls with abnormally located terminal hair (Fisher's exact, P < 0.05). Free androgen index increased throughout puberty in girls with DM1 (ANOVA, P < 0.0001), which was associated with a decrease in SHBG levels in girls with DM1 (ANOVA, P < 0.0001). Stimulated 17OH progesterone (17OHProg) increased throughout puberty only in girls with DM1 (ANOVA, P < 0.01). Girls with DM1 at Tanner stage 5 had higher stimulated LH to FSH ratio, testosterone, and 17OHProg levels than girls at Tanner stage 4. In contrast, in C girls the stimulated testosterone, 17OHProg, and LH to FSH ratio were similar at Tanner stages 4 and 5. Ovarian volumes and uterine length were larger in girls with DM1 (analysis of covariance, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that patients with DM1 have differences in ovarian steroidogenic response to leuprolide, compared with C girls during puberty. Future studies in young women should clarify whether these findings are related to the pathogenesis of hyperandrogenism later in life.
Codner
Ethel
E
Institute of Maternal and Child Research, School of Medicine, University of Chile, Casilla 226-3, Santiago, Chile. ecodner@med.uchile.cl
Mook-Kanamori
Dennis
D
Bazaes
Rodrigo A
RA
Unanue
Nancy
N
Sovino
Hugo
H
Ugarte
Francisca
F
Avila
Alejandra
A
Iñiguez
German
G
Cassorla
Fernando
F
D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis
D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D016729:Leuprolide