Improvement in diagnostic performance of the revised total testosterone measuring system in Japanese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Hyperandrogenemia has become an important factor in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in Japan as well as Western countries, since the Japanese PCOS diagnostic criteria were revised in 2007. The revised electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) reagent for total testosterone (T) (ECLusys TESTO II; New T assay), which has lower cross-reactivity with DHEA-S than the previous reagent (ECLusys TESTO I; Old T assay), has recently been developed. We studied the improvement between New and Old T assays in regards to the diagnostic performance of serum T for patients with PCOS. Serum T levels were measured in both normal women (Control, n=92) and PCOS patients (n=86). The rate of elevated T using each kit was significantly higher in the PCOS group than in the Control group, and significantly higher using New T assay (38/86, 44.2%) compared with Old T assay (26/86, 30.2%). A significant correlation was found between T level and body mass index, but not LH level. Furthermore, higher detection rates of hormonal abnormalities were seen in PCOS patients using combined measurement of both T and LH (63/80) compared with single measurement of either T (37/80) or LH (36/80). Therefore, the serum T assay is essential for the diagnosis of PCOS, and New T assay combined with the LH assay may improve the diagnostic process for PCOS. J. Med. Invest. 61: 65-71, February, 2014.

The association between androgen receptor gene CAG polymorphism and polycystic ovary syndrome: a case-control study and meta-analysis

“…Previous studies in vitro have demonstrated that CAG repeat number shows an inverse correlation with AR activity [9][10][11][12][13][14]. Hence, it's not difficult to understand that shorter CAG repeats, increasing AR activity, are associated with prostate cancer [15,16], hirsutism [17] and hyperandrogenism in ovary [18,19], while longer CAG repeats, decreasing AR activity, are related to hypoandrogenicity [20] and male infertility due to impaired sperm production [10,21]. CAG tracts beyond the normal range (>40 CAG repeats) leads to Kennedy's syndrome, a fatal neuromuscular disease [22].…”

Valproate-Induced Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in a Girl with Epilepsy: A Case Study

“…Adrenal function was also within normal limits, as were her insulin level, blood glucose level, and lipid metabolism (data not shown). These finding met the diagnostic criteria for PCOS 3 . As soon as the diagnosis was confirmed, the dosage of VPA was reduced by 50% for 1 month, after which administration was terminated.…”

“…The symptoms of PCOS include menstrual disorders (including amenorrhea), infertility, miscarriage, and hirsutism 2 . PCOS is characterized by any 2 of the following: oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea, hyperandrogenism or hyperandrogenemia, and polycystic ovaries 2,3 . The diagnostic criteria for PCOS define hyperandrogenemia as elevated serum total testosterone, free testosterone, or androstenedione levels 3 .…”

Weight reduction by using a formula diet recovers menstruation in obese patients with an ovulatory disorder

“…This study enrolled 45 women with ovulatory disorders (including 21 women with PCOS, as diagnosed by the Japanese PCOS criteria, 13,14 all of which also meet the Rotterdam criteria, 15 and a BMI of ≥25. All of them did not have menstruation for at least 2 months.…”