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Women with clinically significant hirsutism always have detectable endocrinological abnormalities
Author(s) -
AlKhawajah Marwan M.,
Fouda Neel Mona A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3083.1997.tb00507.x
Subject(s) - hirsutism , medicine , androstenedione , hyperprolactinaemia , testosterone (patch) , endocrinology , prolactin , hormone , congenital adrenal hyperplasia , androgen , polycystic ovary , insulin , insulin resistance
Aim In this study a consecutive series of 120 hirsute Saudi women were thoroughly investigated fur possible causes of their hirsutism. Methods In addition to a detailed clinical evaluation the following hormones were measured: testosterone, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, prolactin, progesterone, luteinising hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone. T 3 , T 4 , cortisol, 17‐hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and dihydrotestosterone. Results All evaluate patients had at least one hormonal abnormality and 85.9% had at least one of the five major androgens elevated. Polycystic ovaries were found in 59% of the patients, hyperprolactinaemia in 34.6%, and 14.1% had congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Conclusion We recommend a two‐step laboratory work‐up that will unravel a cause for hirsutism in most if not all hirsute women.