Salivary testosterone may not serve as a screening test in the diagnosis of biochemical hyperandrogenism.

Abstract

AIM:

The diagnosis of biochemical hyperandrogenism is still challenging because a set of appropriate, recommended diagnostic tests has not been established. In our study, we aimed to answer the question of whether salivary testosterone is a reliable test to establish the diagnosis of biochemical hyperandrogenism as compared to serum total testosterone (TT) measured either by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) or immunoassay and to assess which set of biochemical tests would be the most appropriate for the identification of biochemical hyperandrogenism.

METHODS:

A total of 39 women, aged 18-45 years, with clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism and 41 healthy individuals, aged 19-45 years, were enrolled in the study. Salivary testosterone was measured using the Salimetrics test. Serum TT was measured either using the LC-MS/MS method or immunoassay, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) and androstenedione were measured using LC-MS/MS.

RESULTS:

In 15 of 17 (88%) patients with elevated serum TT measured by LC-MS/MS and in 14 of 16 (87%) measured with immunoassay, salivary testosterone showed normal levels. In 11 of 39 women (28%) with normal serum testosterone levels, DHEA-S was elevated. All patients with elevated androstenedione presented with an elevated concentration of either serum testosterone or DHEA-S.

CONCLUSION:

Salivary testosterone measurement may lead to the underdiagnosis of biochemical hyperandrogenism. Both serum testosterone and DHEA-S should be measured in the endocrine work-up toward biochemical hyperandrogenism.

• Authors: Urszula Ambroziak, Alina Kuryłowicz, Anna Kępczyńska-Nyk, Agnieszka Kondracka, Sylvia Gajda, Damian Sieńko
• Journal: The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research (J Obstet Gynaecol Res) Vol. 44 Issue 6 Pg. 1118-1125 (Jun 2018) ISSN: 1447-0756 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 29517119 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2018 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Chemical References

• Testosterone
• Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Chromatography, Liquid
• Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (blood, metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Hyperandrogenism (blood, diagnosis, metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Saliva (metabolism)
• Tandem Mass Spectrometry
• Testosterone (blood, metabolism)
• Young Adult