The response of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) to gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) acute stimulation and its relationship to insulin sensitivity (IS) were evaluated in 8 normal obese voluntary women (group N), aged 24 to 40 years (median 29) and body mass index (BMI) of 32.0 to 46.5kg/m² (median of 35.7), and 8 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (group PCOS) aged 19 to 28 years (median of 26) and BMI of 30.1 to 40.1kg/m² (median of 35.8), submitted to an acute stimulation with leuprolide acetate 10µg/kg and to am oral glucose tolerance test. We observed a significant increase of 17OHP levels in group N (1.5 vs. 2.9ng/mL; p= 0.023) as well as in group PCOS (0.8 vs. 3.1ng/mL; p = 0.007), with no significant difference between both groups. The area under the curve of insulin (AUCI) was significantly less in the group N (14,384 vs. 22,800mUI/mL/min, p= 0,04). There was no correlation between 17OHP and the AUCI.
Functional ovarian hyperandrogenism; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Diagnosis
