URINARY KETOSTEROIDS AND PREGNANETRIOL IN HIRSUTISM

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Abstract
The urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids and pregnanetriol was compared in a group of normal young women and in a group of 11 women whose presenting complaint was hirsutism. Androsterone, etiocholanolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, 11-hydroxyetiocholanolone, 11-ketoetiocholanolone, and 11-hydroxyandrosterone were determined quantitatively by paper chromatography. Among the hirsute women, an elevated excretion of androsterone and etiocholanolone was noted in 6, and of dehydroepiandrosterone in 5. The 11-oxyketosteroids tended to be higher in the hirsute group, although no statistical significance was attained. Pregnanetriol excretion was normal. Hirsutism may be associated with elevated excretion of 11-deoxyketosteroids, but it is impossible to predict clinically which patients will fall into this group. There is little overlap clinically between hirsute women and virilized women. This suggests a qualitative difference in androgen production. The significance of the association of elevated excretion of androgen metabolites and hirsutism remains to be determined.