Assessment of insulin resistance in idiopathic hirsutism in comparison with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and healthy individuals

Hirsutism is defined as androgen- dependent excessive male- pattern hair growth. Hirsutism is often idiopathic or the consequence of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Insulin resistance is common in PCOS (specially obese patients)، and، this association has been proved. However، association between Insulin resistance and idiopathic hirsutism is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the assessment of insulin resistance in idiopathic hirsutism، compared with healthy women and patients with PCOS. This case-control study was performed among patients referring to the clinics of Imam Reza and Ghaem general hospital، in 2011-2012. Age adjusted healthy controls were selected voluntarily. The study included three groups، patients with idiopathic hirsutism، PCOS and healthy women. Each group included 30 non-obese women. Insulin resistance was detected by using basal insulin and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) in all the groups. There were no significant difference in the level of serum Insulin (P= 0/491)، level of HOMA- IR score (P=0/470)، prevalence of insulin resistance (P= 0/140) and prevalence of severe insulin resistance (P = 0/696) among three groups. After classification by body mass index (BMI 12≤''> 25، BMI 12>''> 25)، there were also no significant difference in insulin resistance among three groups. The study showed that prevalence of insulin resistance has not significant difference in idiopathic hirsutism، PCOS and healthy groups.