ELECTROPHORETIC ALTERATIONS IN SERUM PROTEINS OF PATIENTS WITH HIRSUTISM

Abstract

In 17 young women suffering from hirsutism, the pattern of serum proteins was studied by paper electrophoresis. Weekly determinations were also made of urinary 17-ketosteroids and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids. There was no correlation between increments in the level of serum gamma globulin and changes in the urinary excretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids. In 9 of the 10 patients in whom the level of serum gamma globulin level was elevated there was also an intermittent elevation in the excretion of urinary 17-ketosteroids. This seems to indicate that hypergammaglobulinemia in hirsutism is caused by an excess of xendogenous androgen.