Hormone profile & polycystic ovaries in acne vulgaris

Thirty women with acne vulgaris, 20 of whom had moderate/severe acne and ten mild acne, and ten controls matched for age were studied. Grade of hirsutism and menstrual irregularities, if any, were recorded. Hormonal measurements included gonadotropins, LH/FSH, prolactin, testosterone and androstenedione in the early follicular phase and progesterone in the luteal phase to assess ovulation. Pelvic ultrasound examination for polycystic ovaries (PCO) was done in all subjects. Sixteen patients with moderate/severe acne and one with mild acne had polycystic ovaries on ultrasound. Patients with moderate/severe acne with polycystic ovaries had high luteinizing hormone, prolactin, testosterone and androstenedione and LH/FSH ratio of more than three. Patients with polycystic ovaries were detected to have at least one hormonal abnormality.