A Study on Plasma Levels of Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone, Estradiol and Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate in Patients with Acne Vulgaris

Kim, Jae Wang; Cho, Min Kyu; Kim, Kwang Joong; Lee, Chong Ju

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although it is evident that androgens have an important role in pathogenesis of acne, the results of current studies on the relationship between serum androgens and acne are inconsistent. Additionally there has been sparse clinical datas about hormonal derangcment with regard to acne in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to elucidate hormonal abnormalities by detecting the quantitative difference between the acne patients and normal persons with respect to the levels of plasma free/total Testosterone(T), Dihydrotestosterone(DHT), Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate(DHEA-S) and Estradiol(E2) in acne patients.
METHODS
In this study, we measured serum levels of free T, total T, DHT, DHEA-S and E2 in 25 women and in 15 men with acne and in 40 healthy control subjects.
RESULTS
1. The levels of free T and E2 in the male patient group were significantly higher than those in the control groups. In the female patient group the levels of DHT were more elevated than those in the control groups. 2. The levels of free T and E2 in all the male subgroups classified by Burke & Cunliffe were significantly elevated compared to those in the male control groups. The plasma levels of DHT in all the female clinical subgroups were significantly higher than those in the female control groups. However, we could not find any correlative relationship between hormonal parameters and the clinical severity in all the patient groups. 3. There was a positive relationship between free T levels and E2 levels in the male patient gfOUp. 4. The patients with menstrual cyclic irregularity had higher mean free T and acne grading scores when compared with those who had regular periods. Also they were younger than the patients with regular menstrual cyclicity.
CONCLUSION
The levels of free T and E2 in male patients were higber than in normal control subjects. In the female patients the levels of DHT were higher than in the control subjects. However, there was no correlative relationship between hormonal parameters and the clinical severity of acne. Also the patients with irregular menstrual cyclicity had a higher free T and showed severe acne clinically.