Background: SAHA syndrome is characterized by the tetrad: seborrhea, acne, hirsutism, and androgenetic alopecia. No previous study has examined the prevalence of glucose abnormalities in ovarian SAHA and explored whether it may be an independent risk factor for glucose abnormalities.
Objective: In a prospective controlled study, we investigated the spectrum of glucose abnormalities in ovarian SAHA and explored whether it is associated with a more insulin-resistant profile.
Methods: In all, 316 patients with a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (56 with SAHA) and 102 age-matched healthy women were examined and underwent a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test. Serum glucose homeostasis parameters, hormones, and adipokines were determined.
Results: SAHA prevalence was 17.7% in patients with PCOS and predominance of the severe PCOS phenotype. Ovarian SAHA was independently associated with a more insulin-resistant profile (higher homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance score, lower quantitative insulin sensitivity check index [QUICKI] and MATSUDA indices, and relative hypoadiponectinemia), and represented an independent risk factor for glucose abnormalities regardless of anthropometric features, age, and PCOS phenotype.
Limitation: There was no performance of skin biopsies.
Conclusion: The prompt recognition of SAHA syndrome in women with PCOS permits an earlier diagnosis and surveillance of metabolic abnormalities, especially in Mediterranean PCOS population exhibiting a lower prevalence of glucose abnormalities.
Keywords: BMI; HA; HOMA-IR; IGF; IR; OA; OGTT; PCO; PCOS; QUICKI; SAHA; SAHA syndrome; SHBG; acne; adiponectin; androgenetic alopecia; body mass index; hirsutism; homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance; hyperandrogenemia; insulin resistance; insulin-like growth factor; oligoanovulation; oral glucose tolerance test; polycystic ovarian morphology; polycystic ovary syndrome; quantitative insulin sensitivity check index; seborrhea; seborrhea, acne, hirsutism, and androgenetic alopecia; sex hormone-binding globulin.
Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.