Patterns of urinary 17-ketosteroid fractions in hirsutism.

Fractionated 17-ketosteroids were determined in 60 females with hirsutism. The chromatographic method was adapted in the Oncological Institute of Cluj-Napoca. In 32 patients the idiopathic form of hirsutism was confirmed with normal results for all the fractions and only sometimes a slight rise of androsterone. In 18 patients an ovarian origin was affirmed; all of them had androsterone and etiocholanolone over normal limits. In ten patients, who had an adrenal origin of hirsutism the great values of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) were observed. In one patient with virilizing adrenal tumour, both total 17-ketosteroids, and all fractions were much elevated DHEA being over 100 mg/24 hours.