CRD42016053457.

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Objective: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) seeking health care in the United States may be more obese and hyperandrogenic than those present in the general population. We aimed to assess the impact of referral bias on European women with functional androgen excess disorders. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: We studied two groups of patients: i) 368 consecutive patients referred to our clinic for the study of functional hyperandrogenism (FH) (referral patients); ii) 57 consecutive premenopausal patients identified by screening during blood donation (unselected patients). We compared the anthropometric data from the groups of patients with those of two control populations: iii) a group of unselected premenopausal healthy female blood donors (unselected controls); and iv) data available from the local general premenopausal female population. Results: Referral patients with FH were more hirsute, had a higher percentage of hyperandrogenemia, and fulfilled PCOS criteria more frequently than unselected patients. The prevalence of obesity in unselected controls was similar to that observed in the general population, whereas referral patients and unselected patients were more frequently obese. The prevalence of obesity was also higher among referral patients compared to unselected patients. Conclusion: Referral bias influences the phenotype of patients with FH. Patients studied at the clinical setting may show more severe hyperandrogenic and obese phenotypes than patients from the general population, even though PCOS appears to be associated with weight excess also in the general European population. This fact should be considered when establishing reference values and control populations for clinical and research purposes.

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Context Functional hyperandrogenism may be associated with a mild increase in body iron stores. Iron depletion exerts a beneficial effect on metabolic endpoints in other iron overload states. Objectives (i) To determine the effect of iron depletion on the insulin sensitivity and frequency of abnormal glucose tolerance in patients with functional hyperandrogenism submitted to standard therapy with combined oral contraceptives (COC). ii) To assess the overall safety of this intervention. Design Randomized, parallel, open-label, clinical trial. Setting Academic hospital. Patients Adult women with polycystic ovary syndrome or idiopathic hyperandrogenism. Intervention After a 3-month run-in period of treatment with 35 μg ethinylestradiol plus 2 mg cyproterone acetate, participants were randomized (1:1) to 3 scheduled bloodlettings or observation for another 9 months. Main outcome measures Changes in insulin sensitivity index and frequency of prediabetes/diabetes, and percentage of women in whom bloodletting resulted in plasma hemoglobin <120 g/L and/or hematocrit <0.36. Results From 2015 to 2019, 33 women were included by intention-to-treat. During the follow-up, insulin sensitivity did not change in the whole group of women or between study arms [mean of the differences (MD): 0.0 (95%CI: −1.6 to 1.6)]. Women in the experimental arm showed a similar odds of having prediabetes/diabetes than women submitted to observation [odds ratio: 0.981 (95%CI: 0.712 to 1.351)]. After bloodletting, 4 (21.1%) and 2 women (10.5%) in the experimental arm had hemoglobin (Hb) levels <120 g/L and hematocrit (Hct) values <0.36, respectively, but none showed Hb <110 g/L or Hct <0.34. Conclusions Scheduled bloodletting does not improve insulin sensitivity in women with functional hyperandrogenism on COC.

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Thyroid tuberculosis (TT) is a very rare condition, even in countries where tuberculosis is endemic. However, the prevalence of tuberculosis has increased worldwide and thyroid involvement can be a primary manifestation of the disease. We present the case of a 43-year-old patient with this diagnosis and perform a review of the related literature. After searching for similar case reports in Western Europe since 2010 we identified six cases in four countries. TT should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a thyroid nodule. Fine-needle aspiration cytology and polymerase chain reaction are useful tools as preoperative diagnosis. Typical caseous necrotic granulomas are the hallmark in biopsy.

ObjectiveTo describe the case of the most hyperandrogenaemic ovarian mucinous cystadenoma reported to date.MethodsWe present the clinical, laboratory and radiologic findings in a patient with an unusual diagnosis according to age and the clinical behaviour of the tumour, as well as a review of relevant literature.ResultsA 77-year-old women came to our consult because of fronto-parietal alopecia and an augmentation of the abdominal perimeter since 1 year ago. Clitoromegaly was observed during the physical examination. Hormonal analysis showed elevated testosterone and dehydroepiandrostenerone-sulphate levels (659 ng/dL and 1950 ng/ml, respectively), and imaging examination described an andexal cystic mass dependent on the right ovary. Pathological diagnosis was “mucinous cystoadenoma”. After surgery, clinical and analytical alterations were normalized.ConclusionAlthough ovarian mucinous cystadenomas are classically classified as “nonfunctional” tumours, they exceptionally can act as functional, and produce testosterone levels as high as directly secreting hormones or germ cell tumours.