Adrenal Androgen Predictive Effects on Clinical and Metabolic Abnormalities of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract: Objective To examine the possible effects of adrenal prohormones in the prediction of clinical and metabolic abnormalities in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods The present study enrolled 299 normal cycling non-PCOS, 156 normoandrogenemic, and 474 hyperandrogenemic women with PCOS. Baseline characteristics were compared using a chi-squared test or analysis of variance (ANOVA) as appropriate. The roles of adrenal prohormones and their ratios with total testosterone in predicting co-occurring morbidities in women PCOS were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results Adrenal hyperandrogenism per dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels were found in 32% of women with PCOS. In non-PCOS women, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate had no predictive role concerning clinical, anthropometric, and metabolic parameters. In PCOS women, mainly in the hyperandrogenemic group, DHEA showed to be a significant predictor against most anthropometric-metabolic index abnormalities (odds ratio [OR] = 0.36–0.97; p < 0.05), and an increase in triglycerides (TG) levels (OR = 0.76; p = 0.006). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate presented a few predictive effects regarding PCOS-associated disorders. In controls, DHEAS predicted against the increase in estimated average glucose (OR= 0.38; p = 0.036). In the normoandrogenic group, it predicted against elevation in the waist/hip ratio (WHR) (OR= 0.59; p = 0.042), and in hyperandrogenemic PCOS women, it predicted against abnormality in the conicity index (CI) (OR = 0.31; p = 0.028). Conclusion Dehydroepiandrosterone was shown to be a better predictor of abnormal anthropometric and biochemical parameters in women with PCOS than DHEAS. Thus, regarding adrenal prohormones, DHEA measurement, instead of DHEAS, should be preferred in PCOS management. The effects of androgen prohormones on the prediction of PCOS abnormalities are weak.

Object Details

• Alternative title: Efeitos preditivos dos androgênios adrenais nas anormalidades clínicas e metabólicas da síndrome dos ovários policísticos
• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Adrenal Androgen Predictive Effects on Clinical and Metabolic Abnormalities of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; volume:44 ; number:02 ; year:2022 ; pages:142-153 ; Revista brasileira de ginecologia e obstetrícia ; 44, Heft 02 (2022), 142-153

Contributors, Places and Time

• Contributor: Medeiros, Sebastião Freitas de ; Barbosa, Bruna Barcelo ; Medeiros, Matheus Antônio Souto de ; Yamamoto, Ana Karine Lin Winck ; Yamamoto, Márcia Marly Winck

Further information

• DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1741030
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2022042111150820644383
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:39 AM CEST