SERUM LEVELS OF ANDROSTENEDIONE, TESTOSTERONE AND DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE-SULFATE IN PATIENTS WITH PREMATURE OVARIAN FAILURE TO AGE-MATCHED MENSTRUATING CONTROLS

Serum concentrations of androstenedione, testosterone and dehydroepian drosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were measured in 29 patients with premature ovarian failure (POF) and an identical number of age-matched normal c ontrol subjects, The study was aimed at determining possible differenc es in androgen concentrations of ovarian and adrenal origin in POF pat ients and age-matched normal menstruating controls, Serum testosterone and DHEAS concentrations in the 2 populations were not significantly different. The serum androstenedione concentration in the POF patient group (3,077.50 +/- 1,122.33 pmol/l) was significantly lower than in a ge-matched normal control subjects (4,167.70 +/- 1,381.09 pmol/l, p < 0.005), possibly reflecting the loss of ovarian androstenedione secret ion and/or a subtle defect in adrenal steroidogenic capacity.