The association of serum androsterone glucuronide with inflammatory lesions in women with adult acne

Serum androsterone glucuronide (AoG) is a metabolite of circulating androgens under the influence of 5alpha-reductase activity and has been shown to be particularly elevated in women with acne. In this study, we wanted to evaluate changes in AoG before and after treatment with an oral contraceptive...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of endocrinological investigation 2002-10, Vol.25 (9), p.765-768
Main Authors: CARMINA, E, GODWIN, A. J, STANCZYK, F. Z, LIPPMAN, J. S, LOBO, R. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acne Vulgaris - blood
Acne Vulgaris - drug therapy
Acne Vulgaris - pathology
Adolescent
Adult
Androsterone - analogs & derivatives
Androsterone - blood
Biological and medical sciences
Biomarkers - analysis
Contraceptives, Oral, Combined - therapeutic use
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate - blood
Dermatology
Ethinyl Estradiol - therapeutic use
Female
Humans
Inflammation - blood
Inflammation - pathology
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Norgestrel - analogs & derivatives
Norgestrel - therapeutic use
Skin - pathology
Skin involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous. General aspects
Testosterone - blood
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Summary:Serum androsterone glucuronide (AoG) is a metabolite of circulating androgens under the influence of 5alpha-reductase activity and has been shown to be particularly elevated in women with acne. In this study, we wanted to evaluate changes in AoG before and after treatment with an oral contraceptive or placebo, and to assess whether changes correlated with the number and type of acne lesions. In order to accomplish these aims, we obtained sera from a completed prospective randomized trial, which was designed to assess the effectiveness of an oral contraceptive compared to placebo. Assessments were carried out in 56 women with moderate acne who were treated with Ortho Tri-Cyclen (norgestimate and ethinylestradiol) (30 patients) or placebo (26 patients) for 6 months. Before and after treatment, the number and type of skin lesions, serum levels of total T, free-T, DHEAS and AoG were determined. Serum AoG increased significantly in women with moderate acne, although T, free-T and DHEAS were normal. 75% of acne patients had elevated levels of serum AoG. Ratios of serum AoG to androgen precursors were also elevated. Oral contraceptive (OC) treatment significantly reduced levels of free-T and AoG, both of which were unaffected by placebo. While both OC and placebo treatment resulted in improvement of comedones and inflammatory lesions, OC treatment decreased inflammatory lesions to a greater extent (p
ISSN:0391-4097
1720-8386
DOI:10.1007/BF03345509