Biomaterial Database

Acne, hirsutism, and alopecia in adolescent girls. Clinical expressions of androgen excess. 1993

R L Rosenfield, and A W Lucky

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Illinois.

Hyperandrogenism must be considered in any girl with premature pubarche, unusual acne, hirsutism, or androgenetic alopecia. An association with menstrual irregularity or obesity should raise the index of suspicion. The most common causes of hyperandrogenism presenting in a teenage girl are functional ovarian hyperandrogenism, one manifestation of which is polycystic ovary syndrome, and functional adrenal hyperandrogenism, which usually seems to be due to an exaggeration of adrenarche. The plasma-free testosterone is a more sensitive indicator of hyperandrogenism than is the total testosterone concentration. The pattern of response of plasma free testosterone, DHEAS, and cortisol to dex-suppression testing can be diagnostic of the source of androgen excess. Treatment, including oral contraceptives, low-dose glucocorticoids, and antiandrogens, should be chosen according to the patient's symptoms and source of androgens and should be combined with traditional therapy for the specific dermatologic disorder.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D005260	Female		Females
D006628	Hirsutism	A condition observed in WOMEN and CHILDREN when there is excess coarse body hair of an adult male distribution pattern, such as facial and chest areas. It is the result of elevated ANDROGENS from the OVARIES, the ADRENAL GLANDS, or exogenous sources. The concept does not include HYPERTRICHOSIS, which is an androgen-independent excessive hair growth.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000152	Acne Vulgaris	A chronic disorder of the pilosebaceous apparatus associated with an increase in sebum secretion. It is characterized by open comedones (blackheads), closed comedones (whiteheads), and pustular nodules. The cause is unknown, but heredity and age are predisposing factors.	Acne
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000505	Alopecia	Absence of hair from areas where it is normally present.	Alopecia, Androgenetic,Baldness,Male Pattern Baldness,Pseudopelade,Alopecia Cicatrisata,Alopecia, Male Pattern,Androgenetic Alopecia,Androgenic Alopecia,Baldness, Male Pattern,Female Pattern Baldness,Hair Loss,Pattern Baldness,Alopecia Cicatrisatas,Alopecia, Androgenic,Alopecias, Androgenic,Androgenic Alopecias,Baldness, Female Pattern,Baldness, Pattern,Hair Losses,Loss, Hair,Losses, Hair,Male Pattern Alopecia
D000728	Androgens	Compounds that interact with ANDROGEN RECEPTORS in target tissues to bring about the effects similar to those of TESTOSTERONE. Depending on the target tissues, androgenic effects can be on SEX DIFFERENTIATION; male reproductive organs, SPERMATOGENESIS; secondary male SEX CHARACTERISTICS; LIBIDO; development of muscle mass, strength, and power.	Androgen,Androgen Receptor Agonist,Androgen Effect,Androgen Effects,Androgen Receptor Agonists,Androgenic Agents,Androgenic Compounds,Agents, Androgenic,Agonist, Androgen Receptor,Agonists, Androgen Receptor,Compounds, Androgenic,Effect, Androgen,Effects, Androgen,Receptor Agonist, Androgen,Receptor Agonists, Androgen
D017588	Hyperandrogenism	A condition caused by the excessive secretion of ANDROGENS from the ADRENAL CORTEX; the OVARIES; or the TESTES. The clinical significance in males is negligible. In women, the common manifestations are HIRSUTISM and VIRILISM as seen in patients with POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME and ADRENOCORTICAL HYPERFUNCTION.