Presentations of Hyperandrogenic Phenotypes in Taiwanese Women

Taipei Medical University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hyperandrogenism,; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome,; Metabolic Syndrome,; Insulin Resistance,; Cardiovascular Disease.

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01940666

WFH-TMU-PCOS-201207025

Details and patient eligibility

About

STUDY QUESTION: Which of the four abnormally elevated androgen groups (total testosterone [TT], androstenedione [A4], free androgen index [FAI], or dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate [DHEA-S]) present with an unfavorable metabolic and hormonal profile, appear to be more insulin-resistant and pose additional cardiovascular risk? SUMMARY ANSWER: Subjects with excess free androgen index tend to be obese and face the highest metabolic syndrome risk, adipocytokine alterations, insulin resistance (IR) and cardiovascular risk. The excess TT group presents with a marginal IR risk, while the excess A4 group has the highest antimüllerian hormone (AMH), and may counterbalance obesity; this group and the excess DHEA-S group have a favorable association with IR.

Full description

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION:A retrospective study in 160 Taiwanese women with HA and 165 women without HA, with medical records reviewed from 2009 up to 2012. The hyperandrogenic women were classified into four groups (TT, A4, FAI, and DHEA-S) according to independent abnormally elevated androgen measures each above its cut-off value, and the groups were compared with each other and with controls.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: This study was performed in the Reproductive Endocrinology Clinic at Wan Fang Medical Center in Taipei, Taiwan. Anthropometric, metabolic, endocrine, and IR components as well as lipid accumulation product (LAP) index were compared between the groups. IR was assessed with the following markers: fasting glucose and insulin levels, oral glucose tolerance test, glucose-to-insulin ratio and homeostasis model assessment of IR index (HOMA-IR).

Enrollment: 649 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 13 to 48 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Hyperandrogenic women who were classified into four groups:

  • Total testosterone (TT),
  • Androstenedione (A4),
  • Free androgen index (FAI),
  • and Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate(DHEA-S).

• According to abnormally elevated androgen measures each above its cut-off value, and non hyperandrogenic women (who had all androgens below their cut-off values)

Exclusion criteria

• None of the women studied had

  • Hypogonadotropic hypogondism,
  • Hyperprolactinemia,
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia,
  • Premature ovarian failure,
  • Androgen-secreting tumors,
  • Cushing's syndrome,
  • or any other endocrine or systemic disease that may affect the reproductive function,
  • or any disorders of the uterus (e.g. Asherman's syndrome and Mullerian genesis) and chromosomal anomalies (e.g. Turner's syndrome).

• In addition, we excluded females who had

  • Experienced menarche less than three years preceding the study start,
  • or who had day 3 FSH > 15 mIU/ml, as well as women with insufficient clinical/biochemical records,
  • and women with ovarian cysts or tumors in an ultrasonographic examination.

Trial design

649 participants in 5 patient groups

Controls

Description:

patients who have all androgens (TT, A4, FAI, and DHEA-S) lower than their cut-off values

Total Testosterone >= 2.39

Description:

Patients who have only total testosterone higher than its cut-off value; (TT) \>=2.39

Androstenedione >= 2.99

Description:

Patients who have only androstenedione higher than its cut-off value; (A4) \>=2.99

Free Androgen Index >= 6.53

Description:

Patients who have only free androgen index higher than its cut-off value; (FAI) \>=6.53

DHEAs >= 181.55

Description:

Patients who have only dehyroepiandrosterone sulfate higher than its cut-off value; (DHEA-S)\>=181.55