study on etiologies of hirsutism and screening for late - onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21 - hydroxylase deficiency

ABSTRACT

Eighty hirsute women [Ferryman and Gallwey score >/= 8] who were referred to the endocrinology clinics of Shiraz university and ten control normal nonhirsute women were assessed in this study. Baseline 17-hydroxyprogesterone [17 OH PG], cortisol, stimulated 17-hydroxyprogesterone and cortisol after 30 minutes of cosyntropin [short acting ACTH] injection were measured for screening of late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia [LOCAH] during follicular phase. Baseline testosterone, Luteinizing hormone [LH], follicular stimulating hormone [FSH], thyroid stimulating hormone[TSH], prolactin [PRL] and dihydroepian drosterone sulfate [DHEA-So[4]] were also measured. The ovaries were visualized in 42 patients by sonography. Of the 80 hirsute women, 3 had late-onset CAH due to 21-Hydroxylase [21 OH] deficiency [3.8%], 43 women diagnosed as having Polycystic ovary syndrome [53.7%] and 34 women diagnosed as having idiopathic hirsutism [42.5%]