Article Abstract:
3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency appears to be extremely rare among patients with hyperandrogenism. 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency is considered a sign of late-onset adrenal hyperplasia. Females with adrenal hyperplasia usually have hyperandrogenism, which is an excess of the male sex hormones, hirsutism, which is abnormal hairiness, or abnormal menstruation. 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency is usually defined as an abnormal 17-hydroxypregnenolone or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) response following adrenal stimulation. Adrenal function was compared in 83 women with hyperandrogenism or abnormal hairiness and 26 healthy women. Following adrenal stimulation, 41% of the women with signs of hyperandrogenism had elevated blood levels of 17-hydroxypregnenolone, and 53% had elevated blood levels of DHEA. However, none of the women had levels high enough to be considered 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficient.
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Article Abstract:
High blood insulin levels do not appear to blunt the adrenal gland's response to the pituitary gland hormone corticotropin in women who have excess levels of male hormones called androgens. Researchers gave a glucose tolerance test to seven women with high levels of androgens and insulin, eight women with excess androgens and normal insulin levels, and nine healthy women. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for insulin, glucose, and androgens. Hourly samples were analyzed for insulin and glucose. Women with excess androgens were also given corticotropin and its affect on adrenal production of cortisol and androgens was measured in blood samples taken at baseline and one hour later. No differences were found in cortisol response or in androgen production between women with chronic overproduction of insulin and women secreting normal amounts.
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Article Abstract:
Increased production of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) in the ovaries may be one of the causes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS have increased blood levels of male sex hormones. Because StAR is involved in the production of steroid hormones, increased amounts of StAR would lead to increased amounts of steroid hormones.
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