TY - JOUR
T1 - Adrenocortical hyperresponsiveness to corticotropin in polycystic ovary syndrome patients with adrenal androgen excess
AU - Moran, Carlos
AU - Reyna, Rosario
AU - Boots, Larry S.
AU - Azziz, Ricardo
N1 - Funding Information:
Financial support provided by the National Institutes of Health RO1-HD29364, K24-HD01346 and M01-RR00032, Bethesda, Maryland.
PY - 2004/1
Y1 - 2004/1
N2 - Objective: To test the hypothesis that adrenal androgen (AA) excess in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is due to a generalized exaggeration in AA output in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and that this abnormality is due to an identifiable alteration in the biosynthesis of AAs. Design: Cross-sectional prospective controlled study. Setting: Academic tertiary care medical center. Patient(s): Patients with PCOS (n = 9) and without (n = 9) AA excess and controls (n = 12) without hyperandrogenism, matched for age and body mass. Intervention(s): Acute 60-minute ACTH test was performed on patients. Main Outcome Measure(s): Basal levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), total testosterone (T), free T, and basal (Steroid0) and the 60-minute ACTH-stimulated levels (Steroid60) of pregnenolone (PREG), progesterone (P4), 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17-HPREG), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-HP), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and androstenedione (A4) were measured. Adrenocortical activities of 17-hydroxylase (17-OH), 17,20-lyase, and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were estimated from product to precursor ratio, using Steroid60 values. Result(s): Compared with PCOS patients without AA excess, PCOS patients with AA excess demonstrated significantly greater levels of DHEA0 and A460. PCOS patients with AA excess had significantly higher activity of Δ 517-OH, compared with PCOS patients without AA excess. Conclusion(s): Adrenal androgen excess in PCOS is associated with a greater Δ 517-OH activity in response to ACTH.
AB - Objective: To test the hypothesis that adrenal androgen (AA) excess in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is due to a generalized exaggeration in AA output in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and that this abnormality is due to an identifiable alteration in the biosynthesis of AAs. Design: Cross-sectional prospective controlled study. Setting: Academic tertiary care medical center. Patient(s): Patients with PCOS (n = 9) and without (n = 9) AA excess and controls (n = 12) without hyperandrogenism, matched for age and body mass. Intervention(s): Acute 60-minute ACTH test was performed on patients. Main Outcome Measure(s): Basal levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), total testosterone (T), free T, and basal (Steroid0) and the 60-minute ACTH-stimulated levels (Steroid60) of pregnenolone (PREG), progesterone (P4), 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17-HPREG), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-HP), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and androstenedione (A4) were measured. Adrenocortical activities of 17-hydroxylase (17-OH), 17,20-lyase, and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were estimated from product to precursor ratio, using Steroid60 values. Result(s): Compared with PCOS patients without AA excess, PCOS patients with AA excess demonstrated significantly greater levels of DHEA0 and A460. PCOS patients with AA excess had significantly higher activity of Δ 517-OH, compared with PCOS patients without AA excess. Conclusion(s): Adrenal androgen excess in PCOS is associated with a greater Δ 517-OH activity in response to ACTH.
KW - 17-hydroxylase
KW - Androgen
KW - Hyperandrogenism
KW - Polycystic ovary syndrome
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U2 - 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2003.07.008
DO - 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2003.07.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 14711555
AN - SCOPUS:0347356257
SN - 0015-0282
VL - 81
SP - 126
EP - 131
JO - Fertility and sterility
JF - Fertility and sterility
IS - 1
ER -