3 Alpha, 17 Beta-Androstanediol Glucuronide in Plasma: A Marker of Androgen Action in Idiopathic Hirsutism
TLDR High levels of 3 alpha-diol glucuronide in the blood are a marker of increased androgen action in women with excessive hair growth of unknown cause.
In a study conducted 42 years ago, biologically active androgens and peripheral androgen metabolites in plasma were measured in 25 women with idiopathic hirsutism (IH). The study found that plasma testosterone was not significantly elevated, but free testosterone was increased, although not impressively (10.9 +/- 6.6 SD vs. 3.3 +/- 1.5 ng/dl). Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) values were elevated (23.5 +/- 14 vs. 12.5 +/- 3.59), but over half of the values were within the normal range. The study concluded that 3 alpha-diol glucuronide, which was markedly increased (604 +/- 376 vs. 40 +/- 10 ng/dl), is a marker of peripheral androgen action and was markedly elevated in IH.
