title: Hyperandrogenism after menopause.
abstract: Postmenopausal hyperandrogenism is a state of relative or absolute androgen excess originating from either the adrenals and/or the ovaries, clinically manifested as the appearance and/or increase in terminal hair growth or the development of symptoms/signs of virilization. In either settings, physicians need to evaluate such patients and exclude the presence of the relatively rare but potentially life-threatening underlying tumorous causes, particularly adrenal androgen-secreting tumors. It has been suggested that the rapidity of onset along with severity of symptom and the degree of androgen excess followed by relevant imaging studies may suffice to identify the source of excessive androgen secretion. However, up to date, there is no consensus regarding specific clinical and hormonal indices and/or imaging modalities required for diagnostic certainty. This is particularly relevant as the aging population is increasing and more cases of postmenopausal women with clinical/biochemical evidence of hyperandrogenism may become apparent. Furthermore, the long-term sequels of nontumorous hyperandrogenism in postmenopausal women in respect to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality still remain unsettled. This review delineates the etiology and pathophysiology of relative and absolute androgen excess in postmenopausal women. Also, it attempts to unravel distinctive clinical features along with specific hormonal cut-off levels and/or appropriate imaging modalities for the facilitation of the differential diagnosis and the identification of potential long-term sequels.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism UnitAretaieion University Hospital, Vasilisis Sofias 76, 11528 Athens, GreeceDepartment of BiochemistryDepartment of PathophysiologyLaikon Hospital, National University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Marios C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Markopoulos
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism UnitAretaieion University Hospital, Vasilisis Sofias 76, 11528 Athens, GreeceDepartment of BiochemistryDepartment of PathophysiologyLaikon Hospital, National University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Evanthia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kassi
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism UnitAretaieion University Hospital, Vasilisis Sofias 76, 11528 Athens, GreeceDepartment of BiochemistryDepartment of PathophysiologyLaikon Hospital, National University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Krystallenia I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Alexandraki
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism UnitAretaieion University Hospital, Vasilisis Sofias 76, 11528 Athens, GreeceDepartment of BiochemistryDepartment of PathophysiologyLaikon Hospital, National University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mastorakos
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism UnitAretaieion University Hospital, Vasilisis Sofias 76, 11528 Athens, GreeceDepartment of BiochemistryDepartment of PathophysiologyLaikon Hospital, National University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, 11527 Athens, Greece gkaltsas@endo.gr.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaltsas
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*