This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by AMICE, V. Articles by AMICE, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by AMICE, V. Articles by AMICE, J.

Increase In H-Y Antigen-Positive Lymphocytes in Hirsute Women: Effects of Cyproterone Acetate and Estradiol Treatment^*

Departments of Endocrinology (V.A., J.P.B., M.H.H.) and Histology, Embryology, and Cytogenetics (V.A., J.A.), University of Bretagne Ocridentak, Brest; and the Fondation de Recherche en Hormonobgie (K.N.) Fresnes, France

Address requests for reprints to: Dr. V. Amice, Laboratoire d’Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, Faculté de Médecine, 22 avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29285 Brest Cedex, France.

To investigate a possible relationship between lymphocyte H-Y antigen expression and plasma androgen concentrations in hirsute women, 27 hirsute women were studied. A significant increase in the percentage of H-Y-positive lymphocytes was found in both hirsute women with idiopathic hirsutism [13.4 ± 2.9% (±SD); n = 15] and hirsute women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (13.0 ± 2.8%; n = 12)compared to that in normal women (10.0 ± 1.9%; n = 30; P< 0.0005). Plasma testosterone and androstenedione concentrations, % H-Y+ lymphocytes, and hirsutism scores diminished during oralcyproterone acetate (50 mg/day)and percutaneous estradiol (3 mg/day) treatment. Significant correlations between % H-Y+ lymphocytes and hirsutism scores (P < 0.001), % H-Y+ lymphocytes and plasma T concentrations (P < 0.01) were found. We conclude that 1) women can produce H-Y antigen in the same way as men; 2) hirsutism is associated with an increase in H-Y antigen; and 3) the antiandrogen cyproterone acetate reduces H-Y antigen expression on lymphocytes.

^* This work was supported in part by the University of Bretagne Occidentale (Grant HID40).

Received November 30, 1987.