Combined Ovarian and Adrenal Vein Catheterization To Determine the Site(s) of Androgen Overproduction in Hirsute Women

TLDR: Testosterone production rates were found to be elevated in 13 consecutive hirsute women, confirming previous observations and it was apparent that, in 9 of the 13 women studied, the major source of androgen was ovarian.

Abstract: Testosterone production rates were found to be elevated in 13 consecutive hirsute women, confirming previous observations. To determine the origin of the excessive testosterone, percutaneous bilateral adrenal and ovarian vein catheterizations were performed, and effluent blood samples obtained for androgen measurement. Although physical examination and retrograde dye injections failed to reveal ovarian enlargement in any of these patients, testosterone and androstenedione concentrations were higher in ovarian effluents vs. adrenal venous samples. The relative contributions of adrenal and ovarian secretion, and precursor conversion to the total testosterone production rate, were estimated in each patient from kinetic considerations and by relating the effluent concentrations of testosterone and androstenedione to the cortisol secretion rate. From such calculations, it is apparent that, in 9 of the 13 women studied, the major source of androgen was ovarian (direct ovarian secretion of testosterone ...