Endocrinological markers for assessment of hyperandrogenemia in hirsute women.
BACKGROUND
Measured endocrinological parameters (total testosterone [TT], free testosterone [FT], dihydrotestosterone [DHT], dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [DHEAS], and sex hormone binding globulin [SHBG]) and calculated parameters (calculated FT (cFT), calculated bioavailable testosterone (cBT), and the free androgen index [FAI]) in women with hirsutism were compared to the values of a control group. The question remains if cFT or cBT are more appropriate markers for assessment of hyperandrogenemia in clinical situations such as hirsutism in women.


METHODS
Sixty-six women showed an modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mF-G) score of >or=6 and were classified as hirsutism group and 58 women showed mF-G scores of <or=5 and were classified as control group. TT, FT, DHT, DHEAS, and SHBG were measured with enzyme immunoassays in one serum sample. Albumin was measured in the same sample. Afterwards, cFT, cBT, and the FAI were calculated.


RESULTS
The hirsutism group revealed significantly increased cFT, cBT, and FAI, while SHBG was significantly decreased compared to the controls. All values of the hirsutism group showed significant, but poor correlation with the mF-G score. SHBG correlated negatively with the mF-G score and BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the limited correlation of all endocrinological parameters to severity of hirsutism described by the mF-G score, cFT, cBT, and FAI may be more appropriate markers for assessment of hyperandrogenemia in women with hirsutism in comparison with measured values of simple enzyme immunoassays.
Mueller
Andreas
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany. andreas.mueller@gyn.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Cupisti
Susanne
S
Binder
Helge
H
Hoffmann
Inge
I
Kiesewetter
Franklin
F
Beckmann
Matthias W
MW
Dittrich
Ralf
R
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012016:Reference Values; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000728:Androgens; D015415:Biomarkers; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone