SERUM LEVELS OF 3-ALPHA-ANDROSTANEDIOL GLUCURONIDE IN HIRSUTE AND NONHIRSUTE WOMEN

This study has evaluated the behaviour of 3 alpha-androstanediol glucu ronide (3 alpha-diol G) in 170 women of whom 85 had polycystic ovary s yndrome (PCOS), 35 had idiopathic hirsutism (IH) and 50 had regular cy cles (control group). Of the women with PCOS. 45 were hirsute (PCOS-H) and 40 were non hirsute (PCOS-NH). Women in the control group were no t hirsute. Hirsutism was assessed by the same physician using the Ferr iman-Gallway score. The body mass index (BMI) was estimated in all of the women. Plasma concentrations of 3 alpha-diol G were elevated only in hirsute patients, both with PCOS and with IH. Even in PCOS-NH, conc entrations of 3 alpha-diol G were higher compared with controls (P < 0 .001), but significantly lower (P < 0.001) than those of the PCOS-H an d of the IH groups. The behaviour of 3 alpha-diol G was not affected b y BMI.