Ovarian and Adrenal Androgens and Their Link to High Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Levels: A Prospective Controlled Study

• Published in: International Journal of Endocrinology Vol. 2014; no. 2014; pp. 218 - 225-023
• Main Authors: René Rodríguez-Gutiérrez, Jesús Zacarías Villarreal-Pérez, Felipe Arturo Morales-Martinez, René Rodríguez-Guajardo, Gloria González-Saldivar, Leonardo G.Mancillas-Adame, Neri Alejandro Alvarez-Villalobos, Fernando Javier Lavalle-Gonzalez, José Gerardo González-González
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Limiteds 01.01.2014; Hindawi Publishing Corporation; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Acne; Alopecia; Androgens; Baldness; Body mass index; Chorionic gonadotropin; Development and progression; Endocrinology; Genetic aspects; Gestational age; Glycoproteins; Gonadal disorders; Gynecology; Hormones; Obstetrics; Physiological aspects; Risk factors; Standard deviation; Statistical analysis; Studies; Thyroid gland; Uterus; Mexico; Germany
• ISSN: 1687-8337; 1687-8345
• DOI: 10.1155/2014/191247

Background. Although the association between human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and hyperandrogenism was identified more than 40 years ago, relevant questions remain unanswered. Design and Methods. We conducted a prospective, longitudinal, and controlled study in 23 women with a diagnosis of a complete hydatidiform mole (HM). Results. All participants completed the study. Before HM evacuation mean hCG was markedly higher in the cases than in the control group ( P ≤ 0.001 ). Free testosterone (T) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) were found to be higher in the cases (2.78 ± 1.24 pg/mL and 231.50 ± 127.20 μ/dL) when compared to the control group (1.50 ± 0.75 pg/mL and 133.59 ± 60.69 μ/dL) ( P = 0.0001 and 0.001), respectively. There was a strong correlation between hCG and free T/total T/DHEA-S concentrations ( r = 0.78 ; P ≤ 0.001 , r = 0.74 ; P ≤ 0.001 , and r = 0.71 ; P ≤ 0.001 ), respectively. In the cases group 48 hours after HM evacuation, hCG levels were found to be significantly lower when compared to initial levels ( P = 0.001 ) and free T and DHEA-S declined significantly ( P = 0.0002 and 0.009). Conclusion. Before uterus evacuation, hCG, free T, and DHEA-S levels were significantly higher when compared with controls finding a strong correlation between hCG and free T/DHEA-S levels. Forty-eight hours after HM treatment hCG levels declined and the difference was lost. A novel finding of our study is that in cases, besides free T, DHEA-S was also found to be significantly higher and both the ovaries and adrenal glands appear to be the sites of this androgen overproduction.