Sebaceous hyperplasia: a pilot study to correlate this skin disease with circulating androgen levels Hiperplasia sebácea cutânea: estudo piloto para a correlação da doença com hormônios androgênios

3 Abstract: BACKGROUND: The sebaceous glands are susceptible to the effects of androgens. A benign pro- liferation of these hormones, i.e. hyperplasia, occurs with age. OBJECTIVES: This was a pilot study to demonstrate whether any correlation exists between circulating androgen levels and an increase in the incidence of sebaceous hyperplasia. METHODS: Sixteen female patients with a diagnosis of sebaceous hyperplasia were compared to a control group of females of a similar age without the disease. Blood tests were performed on participants of both groups to measure circulating androgen levels (free and total testosterone and androstenedione levels). Results were tabulated for statistical analysis. RESULTS: These data showed no statistically significant differences in circulating androgen levels between the patients with sebaceous hyperplasia and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that no significant changes occur in circulating androgen levels (free and total testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate) in patients with sebaceous hyperplasia. Keywords: Hormones; Hormones, hormone substitutes, and hormone antagonists; Hyperplasia; Sebaceous glands Resumo: FUNDAMENTOS: As glândulas sebaceas sao suscetiveis a acao dos hormonios androgenios e apre- sentam proliferacao benigna com a idade, ou seja, hiperplasia. OBJETIVOS: Estudo piloto para verificar se ha correlacao entre a taxa de hormonios masculinos circu- lantes e o aumento da incidencia da hiperplasia das glândulas sebaceas. METODOS: 16 pacientes do sexo feminino, com diagnostico de hiperplasia sebacea cutânea, foram com- parados a um grupo-controle de mesmo genero e idades semelhantes, sem a doenca. Ambos os grupos foram submetidos a testes de dosagem sanguinea para avaliacao das taxas de hormonios androgenios circulantes (testosterona livre e total, androstenediona). Os resultados foram tabulados e analisados estatisticamente. RESULTADOS: Os dados demonstraram nao haver mudancas nos niveis de hormonios masculinos circu- lantes dos pacientes com hiperplasia sebacea cutânea, quando comparados ao grupo-controle. Conclusoes: Os dados sugerem que nao ha alteracoes estatisticamente significantes nas taxas dos hor- monios circulantes (testosterona livre e total, androstenediona, deidroepiandrosterona, sulfato de dei- droepiandrosterona) dos pacientes com hiperplasia sebacea cutânea. Palavras-chave: Glândulas sebaceas; Hiperplasia; Hormonios; Hormonios, substitutos de hormonios e antagonistas de hormonios