Endocrine Abstracts

PCOS is associated with increased biochemical risk markers for cardiovascular disease, particularly low HDL cholesterol and increased triglycerides. There is accelerated progression to type 2 diabetes and hypertension in middle age. These biochemical abnormalities associate with insulin resistance which is present to a greater extent than can be explained by obesity alone. Notwithstanding, hard endpoint data in terms of increased cardiovascular mortality remains elusive. Infla...

PCOS is associated with increased biochemical risk markers for cardiovascular disease, particularly low HDL cholesterol and increased triglycerides. There is accelerated progression to type 2 diabetes and hypertension in middle age. These biochemical abnormalities associate with insulin resistance which is present to a greater extent than can be explained by obesity alone. Notwithstanding, hard endpoint data in terms of increased cardiovascular mortality remains elusive. Infla...

Amongst the different markers of ovarian function, AMH levels and antral follicle count (AFC) are the most objective and reliable predictors of ovarian response in women undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). Several factors, that have been reported to interfere with ovarian response, are taken into consideration when enrolling women into an IVF programme.The aim of this prospective study was to determine the correlation, if any, between baseline AMH l...

The role of oestrogens on the regulation of human hair growth is poorly understood. Using whole human scalp hair follicle organ culture, we have recently demonstrated, that human hair growth is inhibited by 17beta-oestradiol, but not by the biologically inactive isomer 17alpha-oestradiol. Using immunohistochemistry, we have also demonstrated the presence of both ERalpha and ERbeta in the pilosebaceous unit and the dermal papilla, a mesenchymal structure that controls the diffe...

OBJECTIVE Recent studies have shown the benefits of insulin sensitising agents such as Metformin in the treatment of infertility and hirsuitism in PCOS. However not all women with PCOS are insulin resistant. Within a clinic population of women referred for treatment of hirsuitism, we examined the utility of fasting insulin/glucose measurement in identifying which women were insulin resistant.DESIGN We evaluated an outpatient clinic group of 25 PCOS pati...

BACKGROUND: DHEA and DHEAS, can be converted into Androstenedione, T and DHT as well as oestrogens by peripheral tissues. In normal men the conversion rate of IV-infused radiolabelled DHEAS to T is only 0.7%. In hypogonadal men, this conversion rate may be increased. We hypothesise that a pharmacological dose of orally administered DHEA may be able to raise plasma T into the normal range in hypogonadal men. METHODS: Local Ethical Committee Approval was obtained. Two groups (n=...

A South Asian woman aged 44 years presented with longstanding hirsutism. Her periods had always been regular and she had two children. She had been treated with spironolactone and Dianette without clinical benefit and the hirsutism was managed cosmetically. Investigations showed a high serum testosterone of 6.1 nmol/l ( 1-3nmol/l) and androstenedione 25nmol/l (2-10nmol/l). Serum sex hormone binding globulin was elevated at 96 nmol/l (23-85nmol/l), with normal DHEA sulphate, 4....

PREGNANCY OUTCOMES IN POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROMEGarg S1,2, Brady J1, Ivison F2, Sief MW1 and Laing I2.Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Manchester University, at St Mary's Hospital1, and Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Manchester Royal Infirmary M13 9WL2.To evaluate pregnancy outcomes in women with PCOS we studied a single pregnancy in 46 women with PCOS using 46 controls matched for maternal age,...

AFC is related to ovarian function and outcome in assisted reproduction programmes. Current regimens for ovulation induction consider patient age to determine initial FSH dose and may exclude patients from treatment when FSH is high. Increased BMI is also an indication to defer treatment. We aimed to investigate the relationship between AFC and other predictors of ovarian response in candidates for assisted conception.We studied 89 patients referred to a...

A 28-year-old Asian female presented with a 2 year history of abdominal pain and bloating and irregular heavy periods. She had a normal menarche and had 3 uncomplicated pregnancies after conceiving naturally, the last 4 years before presentation. Investigations showed LH 0.7 IU/l (normal range 2-14 IU/l), FSH 8.6 IU/l (2-14 IU/l), oestradiol 2030 pmol/l (80-300 pmol/l), prolactin 346 mU/l, and normal alpha GSU (0.3mcg/l). Ultrasound scanning revealed enlarged multicystic ovari...