Original Paper

Endocrinological Markers for Assessment of Hyperandrogenemia in Hirsute Women
Andreas Mueller^a, Susanne Cupisti^a, Helge Binder^a, Inge Hoffmann^a, Franklin Kiesewetter^b, Matthias W. Beckmann^a, Ralf Dittrich^a

Departments of
^aObstetrics and Gynecology and
^bDermatology, Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Horm Res 2007;67:35-41 (DOI: 10.1159/000096036)

  Key Words

• Free testosterone
• Bioavailable testosterone
• Calculation
• Free androgen index
• Hirsutism

  Abstract

Background: Measured endocrinological parameters (total testosterone [TT], free testosterone [FT], dihydrotestosterone [DHT], dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [DHEAS], and sex hormone binding globulin [SHBG]) and calculated parameters (calculated FT (cFT), calculated bioavailable testosterone (cBT), and the free androgen index [FAI]) in women with hirsutism were compared to the values of a control group. The question remains if cFT or cBT are more appropriate markers for assessment of hyperandrogenemia in clinical situations such as hirsutism in women. Methods: Sixty-six women showed an modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mF-G) score of ≥6 and were classified as hirsutism group and 58 women showed mF-G scores of ≤5 and were classified as control group. TT, FT, DHT, DHEAS, and SHBG were measured with enzyme immunoassays in one serum sample. Albumin was measured in the same sample. Afterwards, cFT, cBT, and the FAI were calculated. Results: The hirsutism group revealed significantly increased cFT, cBT, and FAI, while SHBG was significantly decreased compared to the controls. All values of the hirsutism group showed significant, but poor correlation with the mF-G score. SHBG correlated negatively with the mF-G score and BMI. Conclusion: Despite the limited correlation of all endocrinological parameters to severity of hirsutism described by the mF-G score, cFT, cBT, and FAI may be more appropriate markers for assessment of hyperandrogenemia in women with hirsutism in comparison with measured values of simple enzyme immunoassays.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. Andreas Mueller
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erlangen University Hospital
Universitätsstrasse 21–23, DE–91054 Erlangen (Germany)
Tel. +49 9131 853 3553, Fax +49 9131 853 3552
E-Mail andreas.mueller@gyn.imed.uni-erlangen.de

  Article Information

Received: April 27, 2006
Accepted: August 8, 2006
Published online: October 3, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 28