Circulating gonadotropins, estrogens, and androgens in polycystic ovarian disease

Serum gonadotropin, estrogen, and androgen levels were measured in samples obtained from 19 patients with polycystic ovarian disease (PCO) and from 10 normal women on day 2 to 4 of their menstrual cycles. In patients with PCO, the mean (plus or minus S.E.) concentration was significantly higher (P smaller than 0.001) than the concentrations found in the normal subjects for LH (35 plus or minus 4.6 vs. 12.7 plus or minus 2.6 m.I.U. per milliliter), but not for FSH (10.3 plus or minus 0.7 vs. 8.7 plus or minus 0.9 m.I.U. per milliliter). Estrone (E1) levels (92 plus or minus 4 vs. 52 plus or minus 5 pg. per milliliter) were also significantly higher (P smaller than 0.001), while estradiol (E2) concentrations (58 plus or minus 4 vs. 63 plus or minus 8 pg. per milliliter) were comparable. Testosterone (T) (468 plus or minus 41 vs. 325 plus or minus 34 pg. per milliliter, P smaller than 0.05), androstenedione (delta) (2,083 plus or minus 138 vs. 1,123 plus or minus 153 pg. per milliliter, P smaller than 0.001), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (3.4 plus or minus 0.4 vs. 2.0 plus or minus 0.37 mug per milliliter, P smaller 0.02) were also significantly increased over the values in normal controls. The mean dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was elevated in the patients with PCO (11.3 plus or minus 1.7 vs. 7.5 plus or minus 1.2 mug per milliliter), but was not significantly different. A positive correlation was found between LH levels and both E2 and E1 concentrations in the patients with PCO. These data show a distinct profile of gonadotropin, estrogen, and androgen levels in patients with PCO.