The differential diagnosis of hairy virilism in polycystic ovaries from adrenal cortical hirsutism

: The hormones on the axis hypophysis-ovary and hypophysis-suprarenal gland were examined in 60 women with polycystic ovaries and hairy virilism, 53 women with hirsutism and 45 healthy women, all of the same age. The results show that in hairy virilism from ovarian origin the luteinizing hormone level (LH) is increased 100% and the follicle stimulating hormone level (FSH) is decreased 200%. The index LH/FSH is increased more than 3 times. The testosterone and androstanedione levels are increased, too. In patients with suprarenal-cortex hirsutism the levels of ACTH, androstanedione, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, testosterone and cortisol are increased. A hirsutism from running with hyperprolactinemia is differentiated. The three hirsutism forms may appear as separate forms or in combination.