Gunness A, et al. - In view of the increased prevalence of hyperandrogenism (HA) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women with type 1 diabetes (T1D), researchers explored the informative value of androgen profiling using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) in these women. They identified androstenedione being the most useful of the measured androgens in differentiating subgroups based on clinical phenotypes of HA and PCOS.

Methods

• In this cross-sectional study, following three groups of reproductive-age women were recruited: women with T1D (n = 87), non-diabetic women with (N = 97) and without PCOS (N = 101).
• In women with T1D, androgen profiles and PCOS status were characterized using LC–MS/MS; findings were interpreted in relation to cohorts of non-diabetic women with and without PCOS.

Results

• Compared to non-diabetic women, women with T1D showed lower dehydroepiandrosterone/dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA/DHEAS) ratio (P < 0.05).
• T1D women with clinical HA and anovulation had greater testosterone levels vs those without clinical HA and with regular cycles, while greater androstenedione levels were noted in T1D women with HA and anovulation vs those with HA and regular cycles and also those without HA and with regular cycles (P < 0.05 for all).
• Compared to T1D women without PCOS, the 18% of T1D women who had PCOS were younger with lower BMI, an older age of menarche, and were identified having a higher probability for a positive family history of PCOS (P < 0.05 for all).
• No differences in androgen levels were noted between women with T1D and PCOS compared to BMI-matched non-diabetic women with PCOS, however, greater androstenedione levels were observed in T1D women with PCOS compared to obese women with PCOS (P < 0.05).