Comparison of biochemical and ultrasonographic features in hirsute females with polycystic ovarian syndrome and other causes of hirsutism

ABSTRACT

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a heterogeneous disorder and one of the commonest endocrine disorders of women. One of its common presentations is hirsutism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical and ultrasonographic features of PCOS in patients with hirsutism and to compare these features with other etiologies of hirsutism in our setup. Comparative study. This study was conducted between 1[st] September 2007 to 31[st] December 2008 in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi. All the female patients who presented to gynae and dermatology clinics with hirsutism were included in the study. A detailed history, clinical examination with special reference to Ferriman-Gallwey scoring system, endocrinological workup and abdominopelvic ultrasonography [USG] was done in all patients. We divided the patients into two groups, one labeled as PCOS group [i.e. treatment group] and the other control group including idiopathic hirsutism and other etiologies. Data was analyzed using STATA 11. Multivariant test and logit model was used for statistical analysis. A total of 74 patients were included in the study, 44 had PCOS and 30 were in the control group with other etiologies of hirsutism. Regarding the biochemical tests, only serum FSH, LH and progesterone levels showed statistically significant difference between the two groups [p-value 10 ml] between the two groups was also statistically significant [i.e. p-value diagnosis of PCOS in hirsute females only serum FSH, LH and progesterone are statistically significant. Patients who present with hirsutism should be evaluated systematically and initial investigations must not include a long list of endocrine test. Abdominopelvic USG for polycystic ovaries has a definite role in diagnosis and must be done at initial visit