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Endocrine Abstracts (2022) 81 OC13.3 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.81.OC13.3

1Klinikum der Universität München, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, München, Germany; 2Manchester University Foundation NHS Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Manchester, United Kingdom


Background: Symptoms of hyperandrogenism are common in patients with Cushing’s disease (CD), but they cannot be sufficiently explained by measured concentrations of circulating androgens. In this study we analyzed the contribution of 11-oxygenated (11o×C19) androgens to hyperandrogenemia in female patients with CD as well as the influence of treatment with steroidogenesis inhibitors osilodrostat and metyrapone on 11o×C19 and classic androgens.

Methods: In this single-center study, we assessed saliva day profiles of 23 females with treatment naïve CD, 26 female controls, 5 females with CD treated with metyrapone and 5 treated with osilodrostat for cortisol, cortisone, androstenedione (A4), 11-hydroxyandrostenedione (11OHA4), testosterone (T) and 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry as well as morning baseline levels of gonadotropins and estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in serum and adrenocorticotropic hormone in plasma.

Results: Treatment naïve females with CD showed significantly elevated areas under the curve (AUC) of 11OHA4 and 11KT throughout the day compared to controls (11OHA4 mean rank difference (mrd) 18.13, P=0.0002; 11KT mrd 17.42; P=0.0005) whereas A4, T and DHEAS were comparable to controls. Patients with more symptoms of hyperandrogenism displayed higher concentrations of 11o×C19 androgens and had significantly lower SHBG concentrations. Gonadotropin levels were normal in all patients with CD (LH 7.18 U/l (SD 14.28 U/l); FSH 7.68 U/l (SD 12.0 U/l)) and did not correlate with any other parameters. Treatment with osilodrostat and metyrapone efficaciously blocked 11oxC19 androgen synthesis. In metyrapone but not in osilodrostat treatment a trend towards increased concentrations of T and significantly increased A4-concentrations were observed (A4 mrd 23.07, P=0.0119).

Conclusion: Hyperandrogenemia in CD is predominantly caused by excess of 11o×C19 androgens. Due to lower compensatory increase of A4 and T, osilodrostat seems to be more suitable for treatment of females with CD and hyperandrogenism than metyrapone.

Volume 81

European Congress of Endocrinology 2022

Milan, Italy
21 May 2022 - 24 May 2022

European Society of Endocrinology 

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