Elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone serum values in male patients with acne - 21/08/11

Doi : 10.1016/j.jaad.2005.07.014

Marianne Placzek, MD ^a, Barbara Arnold, MD ^a, Heinrich Schmidt, MD ^b, Sabine Gaube, MD ^a, Elisabeth Keller, PhD ^b, Gerd Plewig, MD ^a, Klaus Degitz, MD ^a,^⁎
^a From the Departments of Dermatology
^b Pediatrics, Ludwig-Maximilian-University

Correspondence to: Klaus Degitz, MD, Department of Dermatology, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Frauenlobstr 9-11, D-80337, München, Germany.

Munich, Germany

Abstract

Background

Androgen excess may provoke or aggravate acne by inducing seborrhea. In women, androgen disorders are frequently suspected when acne is accompanied by hirsutism or irregularities of the menstrual cycle. In men, however, acne may be the only sign of androgen excess.

Objective

Our aim was to investigate whether male patients with acne display pathologic androgen blood values.

Methods

This case-control study at a university dermatology department with referred and unreferred patients investigated male acne patients (n = 82, consecutive sample) in whom the diagnosis of mild to severe acne was made, as well as a control group of men without acne (n = 38). The main outcome measures were androgen parameters including morning values of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone; as well as a corticotropin stimulation test.

Results

17-Hydroxyprogesterone levels were significantly higher (P = .01) in acne patients than in the control group, whereas the other parameters did not differ significantly. In addition, the corticotropin stimulation test revealed abnormal 17-hydroxyprogesterone induction values in 10 of 82 patients.