title: Measuring salivary androgens as a useful tool in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the commonest endocrinopathies. Clinically it can present as oligo-/amenorrhoea, hyperandrogenism and/or fertility problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 60 women admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at the Medical University of Warsaw. The initial evaluation, including case history and two-dimensional vaginal ultrasound, was performed by gynaecologists. All hormonal investigations (fT, free testosterone; bioT, bioavailable testosterone; T, total testosterone; T EQ, free testosterone by equilibrium dialysis; A, androstenedione; A EQ, free androstenedione by equilibrium dialysis; salA, salivary androstenedione; salT, salivary testosterone) were performed. Anthropometrical data, excess facial and body hair, acne, and menstrual cycle frequency were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased levels of T, fT, T EQ and A were noted in 20.0%, 89.8%, 100% and 28.3% of women, respectively. A very high correlation was found between salivary androstenedione and free androstenedione estimated by EQ in plasma (p < 0.05, r = 0.67), and total androstenedione in plasma (p < 0.05, r = 0.71). Correlation between salT and T was r = 0.31, p < 0.05 and salT and T EQ was r = 0.26, p = 0.04. Correlation between salA/salT and T, A in plasma (respective values r = 0.39 and r = 0.28, p < 0.01) and between salA/salT and A EQ, T EQ (respectively r = 0.34 and r = 0.48, p < 0.01) was evident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SalA/salT ratio may be a good indicator of hyperandrogenism in women. We also confirm that measurement of androstenedione in plasma may be useful in making a diagnosis of PCOS.
authors: Radionuclide Therapy Ward, Department of Internal Diseases, Endocrinology and Diabetology, Central Clinical Hospital of Ministry of Interior and Administration, Warsaw, Poland. dszydlarska@op.pl
authors: Dorota
authors: D
authors: Szydlarska
authors: Wiesław
authors: W
authors: Grzesiuk
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Kondracka
authors: Zbigniew
authors: Z
authors: Bartoszewicz
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Bar-Andziak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione