Type B Insulin Resistance Masquerading as Ovarian Hyperthecosis.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Hyperinsulinemia can lead to pathologic ovarian growth and androgen production.

Case description

A 29-year-old woman developed an autoantibody to the insulin receptor (type B insulin resistance), causing extreme insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. Testosterone levels were elevated to the adult male range. Treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog led to normalization of testosterone, despite persistent extreme insulin resistance.

Conclusions

This case demonstrates that gonadotropins are necessary for insulin to cause pathologic ovarian androgen production. Suppression of gonadotropins with GnRH analogs may be a useful therapeutic option in patients with severe hyperandrogenism or ovarian enlargement because of hyperinsulinemia.

SUBMITTER: Brown RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5470776 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature