Abstract
Hyperandrogenemia (HA) is a consistent reproductive phenotype in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and their relatives. Increased testosterone levels are present in premenarchal daughters of affected women (PCOS-d). Obese girls (OB-g) without a family history of PCOS also have peripubertal HA. The sources and significance of HA in these groups remains unknown. 11-oxygenated 19-carbon (C19) steroids are adrenally derived androgens that are elevated in hyperandrogenic disorders, including PCOS. We performed this study to test the hypothesis that peripheral serum 11-oxygenated steroids would differ in PCOS-d compared with OB-g suggesting distinct etiologies of HA in affected girls. We compared peripheral serum 11-oxygenated steroid levels in 21 PCOS-d, 29 OB-g, and 17 lean control girls (LC) of comparable age at an academic medical center. Body mass index (BMI) differed by design (P < 0.001). 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione, 11-ketoandrostenedione, and 11β-hydroxytestosterone levels did not differ between the groups. compared with lc, pcos-d and ob-g had similar elevations in 11-ketotestosterone (11kt) (analysis of variance [anova] p =" 0.03;" pcos-d vs lc, p =" 0.04;" ob-g vs lc, p =" 0.05;" pcos-d vs ob-g, p =" 0.97)." in multivariate regression, 11kt levels were associated with dheas (p =" 0.008)," but not with bmi z score, breast tanner stage, testosterone, anti-müllerian hormone or sex hormone-binding globulin levels. circulating 11kt levels were similarly elevated in peripubertal pcos-d and ob-g, suggesting an adrenal component of ha in both groups. we found that 11-oxygenated 19-carbon steroid profiles did not identify subtypes of ha girls. hyperandrogenemia (ha) is a consistent reproductive phenotype in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos) and their relatives. increased testosterone levels are present in premenarchal daughters of affected women (pcos-d). obese girls (ob-g) without a family history of pcos also have peripubertal ha. the sources and significance of ha in these groups remains unknown. 11-oxygenated 19-carbon (c19) steroids are adrenally derived androgens that are elevated in hyperandrogenic disorders, including pcos. we performed this study to test the hypothesis that peripheral serum 11-oxygenated steroids would differ in pcos-d compared with ob-g suggesting distinct etiologies of ha in affected girls. we compared peripheral serum 11-oxygenated steroid levels in 21 pcos-d, 29 ob-g, and 17 lean control girls (lc) of comparable age at an academic medical center. body mass index (bmi) differed by design (p >< 0.001). 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione, 11-ketoandrostenedione, and 11β-hydroxytestosterone levels did not differ between the groups. compared with lc, pcos-d and ob-g had similar elevations in 11-ketotestosterone (11kt) (analysis of variance [anova] p =" 0.03;" pcos-d vs lc, p =" 0.04;" ob-g vs lc, p =" 0.05;" pcos-d vs ob-g, p =" 0.97)." in multivariate regression, 11kt levels were associated with dheas (p =" 0.008)," but not with bmi z score, breast tanner stage, testosterone, anti-müllerian hormone or sex hormone-binding globulin levels. circulating 11kt levels were similarly elevated in peripubertal pcos-d and ob-g, suggesting an adrenal component of ha in both groups. we found that 11-oxygenated 19-carbon steroid profiles did not identify subtypes of ha girls.>
