title: [Post-menopausal ovarian hyperthecosis].
abstract: Ovarian hyperthecosis is infrequent but it represents the first cause of post-menopausal hyperandrogenia. Pathophysiology of ovarian hyperthecosis remains poorly understood but the metabolic syndrome observed in most patients suggests that insulin resistance associated with high, postmenopausal LH levels, might play a role as in polycystic ovarian syndrome. We report here four patients who presented post-menopausal hyperandrogenia. Although high, tumoral, plasma testosterone levels, lack of focused radiological lesions except enlarged ovaries, associated to the metabolic syndrome, suggested ovarian hyperthecosis. Bilateral annexectomy allowed histological confirmation of hyperthecosis showing specific luteinized stromal cells and led to the complete suppression of the inappropriate androgen secretion.
authors.affiliation: Service d'endocrinologie, gynécologie et reproduction, hôpital l'Archet, CHU de Nice, 151 route de Saint-Antoine-Ginestière, Nice, France.
authors.forename: A-L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Castell
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hieronimus
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chevallier
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sadoul
authors.forename: M-B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Galand-Portier
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Delotte
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fénichel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D017698:Postmenopause; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone