Hirsutism and Virilization in the Female
January 2013
in “
Elsevier eBooks
”
hirsutism virilization hypertrichosis polycystic ovarian syndrome idiopathic hirsutism androgen-secreting tumors congenital adrenal hyperplasia Cushing’s syndrome luteinizing hormone follicle-stimulating hormone anti-Mullerian hormone testosterone sex hormone-binding globulin free testosterone androstenedione dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate 17α-hydroxyprogesterone dihydrotestosterone 3α-androstanediol glucuronide PCOS DHEA-S DHT
TLDR The chapter explains the causes of excessive hair growth and masculinization in women and how to measure hormone levels related to these conditions.
The chapter reviewed the causes and underlying steroid pathways of hirsutism and virilization in women, discussing conditions such as hypertrichosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, idiopathic hirsutism, androgen-secreting tumors, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and Cushing’s syndrome. It detailed the biological functions, clinical applications, and limitations of immunoassay analytes relevant to these conditions, including luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, anti-Mullerian hormone, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, free testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, dihydrotestosterone, and 3α-androstanediol glucuronide. The chapter also described typical assay technologies, sample types, usage frequency, and provided example reference intervals, with some information offered through cross-references to other chapters.
