Abstract

Plasma androgen levels were determined in women assigned to the following groups: idiopathically hirsute, diabetic, both idiopathically hirsute and diabetic, and normal. The androgens examined were androstenedione (AD), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone (T), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). We find statistical differences between young (less than 38 years) and older (larger than or equal to 38 years) controls at confidence levels of p less than or equal to 0.01 for AD, DHT, and T and of p less than or equal to 0.05 for DHEA. The results indicate that peak circulating androgen levels occur prior to age 30-35 years for women. There are no significant differences between the young controls and young idiopathically hirsute subjects, but a statistical difference exists between older hirsute and older controls for all four androgens (p less than or equal to 0.05). When a comparison is made among the diabetic, hirsute diabetic, and older control groups (all groups larger than or equal to 38 years), the diabetic group is significantly higher than the control in plasma AD (p less than or equal to 0.01) and DHEA (p less than or equal to 0.05). These same two steroids are also higher in the diabetic group than in the hirsute diabetic group (p less than or equal to 0.05), while the latter differs from controls only in testosterone levels (p less than or equal to 0.05). DHT levels are similar for all three groups.