title: Hormonal profile and androgen receptor study in prepubertal girls with hypertrichosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prepubertal hypertrichosis is a reportedly benign condition characterized by an excessive growth of vellous hair in non-androgen dependent areas of the body compared to the amount usually present in normal subjects of the same age, race and sex. Although this condition is usually considered idiopathic and regarded as benign, it may be very disturbing cosmetically, causing significant patient and parental anxiety.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a hormonal and androgen receptor study in 42 prepubertal girls with hypertrichosis and 29 control girls from 2 to 8 years of age. Both groups underwent a determination of basal LH, FSH, 17OH progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, estradiol and SHBG, abdominal ultrasound to assess ovarian morphology, and the number of androgen receptor CAG/GGC repeats in DNA obtained from peripheral leukocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The hypertrichosis score was higher in the cases compared to controls. Serum gonadotropins and sex steroids were similar in both groups, but SHBG was significantly lower in the girls with hypertrichosis (71.1 ± 2.9 vs 81.9 ± 3.0 nmol/L, p < 0.02). The distribution of shorter, larger and total alleles was not statistically different between cases and controls. The combined analysis of CAG/GGC, however, showed a significantly higher prevalence of the most androgen-sensitive haplotypes (1-2: <22CAG + 17/17GGC- < 14CAG + 17/18GGC) in girls with hypertrichosis compared to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that girls with hypertrychosis exhibit AR(s) with enhanced sensitivity, which may facilitate the growth of their body hair.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santa Rosa 1234, 2nd floor IDIMI, Casilla, 226-3 Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Maria Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Institute of Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santa Rosa 1234, 2nd floor IDIMI, Casilla, 226-3 Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Institute of Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santa Rosa 1234, 2nd floor IDIMI, Casilla, 226-3 Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Ketty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bacallao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santa Rosa 1234, 2nd floor IDIMI, Casilla, 226-3 Santiago, Chile ; Departments of Pediatrics, Hospital Clínico San Borja Arriarán, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hospital Clínico San Borja Arriarán, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Aníbal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.affiliation: Institute of Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santa Rosa 1234, 2nd floor IDIMI, Casilla, 226-3 Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trejo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santa Rosa 1234, 2nd floor IDIMI, Casilla, 226-3 Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iñiguez
authors.affiliation: Institute of Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santa Rosa 1234, 2nd floor IDIMI, Casilla, 226-3 Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Ethel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Codner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santa Rosa 1234, 2nd floor IDIMI, Casilla, 226-3 Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cassorla
keywords: Androgen metabolism; Androgen receptor; Body hair; Hypertricosis; Prepubertal girls
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