Objective: To determine the prevalence of 21-hydroxylase (21-OH)-deficient nonclassic adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH) and insulin resistance in hirsute women from Puerto Rico : Cross-sectional prospective study. Sett : Clinical research center. Patient(s): 100 consecutive untreated hirsute women. Main Outcome Measure(s): Fasting total T, free T, DHEAS, insulin, and glucose were measured, and a 60-minute acute ACTH-(1-24) stimulation for 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-HP) was performed. A diagnosis of 21-OH-deficient NCAH was considered when the stimulated 17-HP level was >30.3 nmol/L. The glucose/insulin ratio was calculated as a measure of insulin resistance (normal value, ≥4.5). Result(s): Patients had a mean (±SD) age of 26.8 ± 6.6 years; 82 were oligomenorrheic. Overall, 12%, 8%, and 60% of patients had elevated levels of DHEAS, total T, or free T, respectively. One patient was identified as having 21-OH-deficient NCAH. Eight women, none of whom had NCAH, were found to be hyperglycemic; four of these women had type 2 diabetes mellitus. Excluding hyperglycemic patients, a glucose/insulin ratio of <4.5, consistent with IR, was found in 51.7%. Conclusion(s): The prevalence of 21-OH-deficient NCAH among patients from Puerto Rico does not differ significantly from that reported for other non-Jewish, non-Hispanic white populations. Copyright (C) 2000 American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
