title: Androgen responses to adrenocorticotropic hormone infusion among individual women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare androgen responses during ACTH infusion among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with PCOS (n = 13) and healthy controls (n = 15).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were obtained frequently during a 6-hour dose-response ACTH infusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of basal and stimulated levels of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androgens, and cortisol (F) during ACTH infusion with those after hCG injection within individual subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In women with PCOS increased 17-OHP, androstenedione (A), and DHEA responses during ACTH infusion were comparable to those observed in healthy controls. The magnitude of responses was highly variable among women with PCOS. Within individual women with PCOS adrenal responses to ACTH and ovarian responses to hCG were significantly correlated. Cortisol responses to ACTH were similar in women with PCOS and healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within individual women with PCOS, enhanced androgen responses to ACTH are accompanied by comparable androgen responsiveness to hCG. These findings suggest that dysregulated steroidogenesis leading to hyperandrogenemia in this disorder is likely present in both adrenal and ovarian tissues.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT00747617.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.
authors.forename: Kevin H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cook-Andersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.
authors.forename: Antoni J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Duleba
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California. Electronic address: rjchang@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: R Jeffrey
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000097:blood; D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000304:Adrenal Cortex Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D010050:Ovarian Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D015415:Biomarkers; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: 17-OHP; ACTH; androgen; polycystic ovary syndrome