A Case of Hyperandrogenism, Insulin Resistance and Acanthosis Nigricans (HAIR-AN) Syndrome.

Kim, K T; Park, C J; Kim, Y K; Jang, P R; Park, Y S; Kim, H K; Kim, D M

Obstet Gynecol Sci > Volume 40(11); 1997 > Article

Case Report

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1997;40(11):2605-2608.
Published online: January 1, 2001

A Case of Hyperandrogenism, Insulin Resistance and Acanthosis Nigricans (HAIR-AN) Syndrome.

K T Kim, C J Park, Y K Kim, P R Jang, Y S Park, H K Kim, D M Kim

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea.
²Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

The HAIR-AN syndrome affects between 2% and 5% of hirsute women and is charactedrized by elevated insulin levels due to insulin resistance, acanthosis nigricans, and hyperandrogenemia. The insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia is typically due to a decreased number of insulin receptors, decreased functional activity of the receptor or circulating antiinsulin receptor antibodies. Multiple, independent lines of evidence support that chronic hyperinsulinemia causes ovarian hyperandrogenism. Acanthosis nigricans is considered a marker for insulin resistance in hirsute women. 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.

Keywords: Hyperandrogenism; Insulin resistance; Acanthosis nigricans