Which hormone is the best for diagnosis of polycystic ovary disease?

ABSTRACT

To study which hormone is the best for diagnosis of polycystic ovary disease [PCO], luteinizing hormone [LH], follicle stimulating hormone [FSH], testosterone, androstenedione and estradiol were assessed by radioimmunoassay in twenty four women with clinical and ultrasound diagnosis of polycystic ovary disease. Fourteen healthy women were selected as a control group. Blood samples were withdrawn in the early follicular phase [day 2-3] and sera were separated and frozen until assayed. There were significant increase in the levels of LH, LH/FSH ratio, testosterone and androstenedione in PCO group when compared to the control group. These levels were in the abnormal range for 50%, 62.5% 96% and 75% of patients respectively. So, the most frequently abnormal hormone was testosterone. There was no significant difference in FSH and estradiol between the two groups. We concluded that, the best single hormone for diagnosis of PCO was testosterone. Combination with any of LH, LH/FSH ratio or androstenedione increased the sensitivity as biochemical markers for PCO disease up to 100%