Pharmacokinetics and Bioconversion of Dehydroepiandrosterone After Dexamethasone Pretreatment in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The study investigated the role of peripheral steroid biosynthesis in androgen production in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by administering dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) after dexamethasone pretreatment. It involved 8 women with PCOS and 8 healthy women, matched by age and BMI. Results showed that dexamethasone significantly suppressed circulating steroids in both groups, while DHEA administration led to a significant increase in serum concentrations of DHEA, DHEAS, androstenedione, and testosterone. Notably, women with PCOS exhibited significantly higher increases in 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and its metabolites, suggesting increased 5alpha-reductase activity. This enzyme, expressed in various tissues, contributes to the conversion of testosterone to DHT and cortisol breakdown, indicating that not only the ovaries and adrenal glands but also the liver and peripheral cells may contribute to steroid alterations in PCOS.