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Differential activity of the corticosteroidogenic enzymes in normal cycling women and women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders volume 20, pages 3–13 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

The phenotypic complex of patients with definitive diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome may include patients with normal and high serum androgen levels. Patients with hyperandrogenemia seem to present higher risk of changes to the glucose and lipid metabolism and, eventually, of earlier development of cardiovascular diseases than normoandrogenemic patients or healthy women. From a laboratory and clinical point of view, it is important to check androgen levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. The identification of partial insufficiency of a given corticosteroidogenic enzyme is also relevant to understand the physiopathology of androgen increase in polycystic ovary syndrome. Therefore, the present review analyzes the functions of the different enzymes involved in the ovary and adrenal steroidogenesis in normal cycling women and in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. In addition, it emphasizes appropriate reason for investigating eventual enzyme deficiency to provide rationale for prescription and follow-up of women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

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  1. Tropical Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil

    Márcia Marly Winck Yamamoto & Sebastião Freitas de Medeiros

  2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, 78060-900, Brazil

    Sebastião Freitas de Medeiros

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Yamamoto, M.M.W., de Medeiros, S.F. Differential activity of the corticosteroidogenic enzymes in normal cycling women and women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 20, 3–13 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-019-09482-3

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Keywords

  • Polycystic ovary syndrome
  • Hyperandrogenism
  • Enzymes
  • Steroid hydroxylases