Kuttenn F, Mauvais-Jarvis P
J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris). 1978 Apr;7(3 Pt 2):693-701.
Hirsutism may arise from two different causes: an increased production of active androgens by the adrenals and/or an increased utilization of circulating androgens by the target cells of the skin i.e. idiopathic hirsutism. Plasma testosterone and androstenedione levels are the best indexes of androgen production. Testosterone 5 alpha-reductase capacity in the skin and urinary 3 alpha-androstanediol reflect androgen utilization. In most hirsutisms, the only plasma testosterone level give sufficient information: it is normal with normal ovulatory cycles in idiopathic hirsutism, it is slightly elevated in ovarian dystrophy, the most frequent causes of hirsutism. More sophisticated investigations are only needed when testosterone levels appear to be over 1.50 ng/ml. In these cases, one could expect an uncommon etiology such as virilizing tumor on a delayed onset of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
肾上腺产生活性雄激素增加和/或皮肤靶细胞对循环雄激素的利用增加，即特发性多毛症。血浆睾酮和雄烯二酮水平是雄激素产生的最佳指标。皮肤中的睾酮5α-还原酶活性和尿中3α-雄烷二醇反映雄激素的利用情况。在大多数多毛症病例中，仅血浆睾酮水平就能提供足够信息：特发性多毛症且排卵周期正常时其水平正常，卵巢功能障碍（多毛症最常见病因）时其水平略有升高。仅当睾酮水平似乎超过1.50 ng/ml时才需要更复杂的检查。在这些情况下，可能存在罕见病因，如迟发性先天性肾上腺皮质增生症的男性化肿瘤。
