Luteinizing hormone pulsatility in patients with major ovarian hyperandrogenism

• Published in: Journal of endocrinological investigation 2007-09, Vol.30 (8), p.636-646
• Main Authors: Bachelot, A, Laborde, K, Bresson, J L, Plu-Bureau, G, Raynaud, A, Bertagna, X, Mogenet, A, Mansour, M, Lucas-Jouy, V, Gayno, J-P, Reznik, Y, Kuhn, J-M, Billaud, L, Vacher-Lavenu, M-C, Putterman, M, Mowszowicz, I, Touraine, P, Kuttenn, F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Feedback, Physiological; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Humans; Hyperandrogenism - metabolism; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - metabolism; Pulsatile Flow; Testosterone - blood; Virilism - metabolism
• ISSN: 0391-4097; 1720-8386
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03347443

Hyperandrogenism and ovulatory dysfunction are common in women with either polycystic ovary (PCOS) or ovarian virilizing tumor. However, contrasting with the numerous studies that have extensively described gonadotropin secretory abnormalities, principally increased LH pulse amplitude and frequency, few studies have concerned gonadotropin secretion in patients with ovarian virilizing tumors; low gonadotropin levels have occasionally been reported, but never extensively studied. The goal of the present study was to further evaluate the pulsatility of LH secretion in women with ovarian virilizing tumor compared with that of PCOS patients. Eighteen women with major hyperandrogenism (plasma testosterone level >1.2 ng/ml) were studied (5 women with ovarian virilizing tumor, 13 women with PCOS, and 10 control women). Mean plasma LH level, LH pulse number and amplitude were dramatically low in patients with ovarian tumors when compared to both PCOS (p