HIRSUTISM AND ACNE IN WOMEN - COORDINATED RADIOIMMUNOASSAYS FOR 8 RELEVANT PLASMA STEROIDS

We developed and validated a coordinated set of RIAs for the following eight steroids in single small aliquots (less than or equal to mL) of plasma: androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, 21 -deoxycortisol (21-DF), 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione, 17 alpha-hydro xypregnenolone (17-Hpreg), 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, and testoster one. Samples were extracted and then chromatographed on celite microco lumns. Radioiodinated tracers were used for two of the assays (17-Hpre g and 21-DF). Tritiated tracers and scintillation proximity assay coun ting were used to give separation-free procedures for the other six as says, which considerably improved their practicability and reproducibi lity. The basal and postadrenocorticotropic hormone plasma values for these steroids in normal women sampled in the follicular phase are pre sented. Finally, the measurement of the eight steroids as a diagnostic method is evaluated with reference to data from 203 patients with hir sutism and (or) acne.