A Case of HAIR - AN Syndrome.

Lee, Sook Hwan; Yoon, Tae Ki; Cha, Kwang Yul; Kwak, In Pyung; Nam, Yoon Sung

Case Report

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1999;42(3):622-624.
Published online January 1, 2001.

A Case of HAIR - AN Syndrome.

Sook Hwan Lee, Tae Ki Yoon, Kwang Yul Cha, In Pyung Kwak, Yoon Sung Nam

Abstract

Polycystic ovary disease is a heterogenous endocrinopathy with many interacting causal factors. One potential such factor is chronic hyperinsulinemia. multiple, independent lines of evidence suppart the contention that chronic hyperinsulinemia causes ovarian hyperandragenism. This evidence includes: (1) mutations in the insulin receptor gene that cause severe hyperinsulinemia appear to be associated with ovarian hyperandrogenism, (2) insulin stimulates ovarian thecal and sttomal androgen seaetion in vitro, and (3) in some experimental models, manipulation of circulating insulin concentrations results in changes in circulating androgens. Although the association between hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenism remains to be fully explained at the molecular level, chronic hyperinsulinemia appears to be an important cause of hyperandrogenism. We have experienced a case of HAIR AN syndrome showing hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance and acanthosis nigricans in infertile patient. So we report this case with a brief review of literatures.

Key Words: Hyperandrogenism, Insulin resistance, Acanthasis nigricans