OBJECTIVE: To determine whether lipid alterations in hirsute women are due to excessive androgen, low estrogen or to a combination of these abnormalities. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. PATIENTS: Forty-five hirsute women between 15 and 39 years of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: FSH, LH, 17beta-estradiol, PRL, testosterone, androstenedione, triglycerides and apolipoproteins A-I and B. RESULTS: Testosterone was correlated with triglycerides (r: 0.76, p<0.01), HDL (r: -0.61, P<0.01) and LDL (r: 0.50, p<0.05). Both HDL (r: 0.66, p<0.01) and LDL (r: -0.57, p<0.01) were correlated with estradiol. Total cholesterol was also correlated with estradiol (r: -0.52, p<0.05). Cross adjusted correlations revealed that, after adjusting for estradiol, lipids were associated with testosterone and that estradiol was also correlated with lipids when adjusted for testosterone. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that altered lipids in women with hyperandrogenism could result from independent effects of androgens and estrogens.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether lipid alterations in hirsute women are due to excessive androgen, low estrogen or to a combination of these abnormalities. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. PATIENTS: Forty-five hirsute women between 15 and 39 years of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: FSH, LH, 17beta-estradiol, PRL, testosterone, androstenedione, triglycerides and apolipoproteins A-I and B. RESULTS:Testosterone was correlated with triglycerides (r: 0.76, p<0.01), HDL (r: -0.61, P<0.01) and LDL (r: 0.50, p<0.05). Both HDL (r: 0.66, p<0.01) and LDL (r: -0.57, p<0.01) were correlated with estradiol. Total cholesterol was also correlated with estradiol (r: -0.52, p<0.05). Cross adjusted correlations revealed that, after adjusting for estradiol, lipids were associated with testosterone and that estradiol was also correlated with lipids when adjusted for testosterone. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that altered lipids in women with hyperandrogenism could result from independent effects of androgens and estrogens.