Hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, and acanthosis nigricans (HAIR-AN) is a severe subphenotype of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A 32-year-old woman with HAIR-AN and class 3 obesity presented to an endocrinology clinic after she failed sequential trials of treatment with metformin, estrogen–progestin OCP, spironolactone, leuprolide, and a levonorgestrel intrauterine device. She complained of hirsutism and acanthosis nigricans severely affecting her quality of life and had secondary amenorrhea. Laboratory evaluation showed extremely elevated testosterone and insulin levels and elevated glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). She underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. One year after the surgery, she lost 32% of her body weight and reported normalization of menses, dramatic improvement in hirsutism, and near-resolution of acanthosis nigricans. Her testosterone, insulin, and HbA1c normalized. This case demonstrates the central role of hyperinsulinemia in HAIR-AN and suggests that aggressive measures to normalize insulin resistance and reduce excess weight can effectively treat the reproductive abnormalities in this syndrome. We suggest that bariatric surgery can be an effective cure for HAIR-AN syndrome and that PCOS, including HAIR-AN, should be considered a comorbidity of obesity during evaluation of bariatric surgery candidates.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.