THE EXCRETION OF 17-KETOSTEROIDS IN IDIOPATHIC HIRSUTISM

Abstract

THE observations which have been published on the excretion of urinary 17-ketosteroids in normal women show that, though fluctuations in the excretion level occur, no systematic relation can be demonstrated between these fluctuations and the different phases of the menstrual cycle (1–11). The level of ketosteroid excretion during the menstrual cycle is on the whole remarkably constant, in contrast to that of other substances of hormonal origin. Ketosteroid excretion in hirsutism has been reported as high or very high, only when the condition is associated with the presence of a masculinizing tumor (adrenal or ovarian). In other cases of hirsutism the excretion range has been described as “within the normal range,” “tending toward the male range of excretion,” or as “moderately elevated” (3, 9, 12–17). The following report deals with the 17-ketosteroid excretion of 9 patients complaining of increased growth of facial and body hair. The patients ranged in age from 21 to 30 years; 4 were single, 5 were or had been married and none had children. Menstruation in all patients was described as regular or essentially regular.