The adrenal cortex and virilization

Abstract

The physiological control of adrenal androgen secretion has not been definitively established. However, there is evidence to suggest that a dexamethasone-suppressible factor other than ACTH may have a specific role to play. The majority of patients with idiopathic hirsutism (hirsutism associated with regular menstruation) have findings suggestive of adrenal androgen excess, including enhanced androgen responsiveness following administration of metyrapone, and respond to treatment with dexamethasone, 0.5 mg given each night. Patients with idiopathic hirsutism have elevated androgens but normal oestrogen and gonadotrophin levels. In contrast, while patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) also demonstrate evidence of adrenal androgen excess, these patients have elevated oestrone levels and gonadotrophin secretion is abnormal. Approximately 50% of patients with PCOS treated with dexamethasone resume regular menstruation. Oestrone excess appears to be primary to the abnormal gonadotrophin secretion and to the development of PCOS. In non-obese patients with PCOS elevated oestrone appears to occur as a consequence of the availability of the excessive amounts of its immediate precursor, androstenedione, an androgen mainly of adrenal origin. Androstenedione is converted to oestrone in fat. Obese amenorrhoeic subjects have normal androstenedione values but elevated oestrone levels with abnormal gonadotrophin secretion as seen in PCOS. These findings indicate that abnormal gonadotrophin secretion is associated with elevated oestrone levels whether these occur as a consequence of excessive adrenal androgen secretion, or the excessive conversion of normal amounts of available androstenedione. Patients with idiopathic hirsutism and elevated androstenedione levels but normal oestrone values appeared to be protected against the development of PCOS by relatively poor conversion of androstenedione to oestrone. It is likely, therefore, that if patients with idiopathic hirsutism gain additional adipose tissue, elevated oestrone levels will result and PCOS will develop. These observations explain the frequent association of PCOS and obesity. There is a close clinical association between elevated androgen levels and hirsutism and between elevated oestrone levels and menstrual disturbances. However, some patients with amenorrhoea but without hirsutism may demonstrate marked elevations of androgens and oestrone, the correction of which leads to the resumption of regular ovulation. This presentation, ‘amenorrhoea with cryptic hyperandrogenaemia’, is probably explained by diminished sensitivity of androgen receptors. While adrenal androgen excess may be associated with hirsutism and menstrual disturbances in patients with Cushing's syndrome, the features of glucocorticoid excess usually predominate. When frank virilization develops, the presence of an androgen-secreting adrenal or ovarian tumour should be suspected. Ultrasonography, CT scanning, adrenal radio-isotope scanning, arteriography and selective sampling from adrenal and ovarian veins for measurement of androgens, will usually identify the source of androgen excess. Normal urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion may be found in association with a pure testosterone-secreting adrenal tumour. The possibility of surreptitious androgen ingestion should be considered prior to undertaking a diagnostic laparotomy when virilized patients fail to disclose adrenal or ovarian pathology despite employing the currently available highly sensitive localizing procedures.