HAIR-AN syndrome

HAIR-AN syndrome consists of hyperandrogenism (HA), insulin resistance (IR) and acanthosis nigricans (AN). It is a rare disease which is a subset of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in females in which there is an increase in the production of androgen (male hormone), leading to an expression of male-like characters in the female body. The name HAIR-AN is made up of the three conditions of which it consists. The commonly used term "HAIR-AN" is a generic description of the features of SIR (severe insulin resistance)." Although HAIR-AN can result from two very different types of abnormalities – blocking antibodies against the insulin receptor or genetically absent/reduced insulin receptor number/function – patients with both types have high levels of androgens (male hormones).

Research on the two types of HAIR-AN demonstrated that patients with both forms of HAIR-AN had very high levels of insulin and, critically, that it was the high insulin that caused the elevation in androgen. The patient affected by HAIR-AN syndrome has insulin resistance inside their body. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body produces insulin but does not use it properly. This causes the pancreas to produce more insulin in the body. High levels of insulin stimulate the ovaries to make excess of androgen, leading to excessive hair growth, acne and irregular periods in the female body. Insulin resistance can also lead to diabetes, heart disease and excessive growth and darkening of the skin (acanthosis nigricans)

Signs and symptoms

In the majority of young women, hyperandrogenism leads to oily skin, acne, hirsutism, menstrual irregularities and, in some cases, androgenic alopecia, clitorimegaly, changes in muscle mass and deepening of the voice. Insulin resistance can be present in different forms; some persons have high concentrations of insulin but normal levels of glucose, while others have glucose measurements in the diabetic range. A history of diabetic symptoms such as polydipsia, polyuria and weight loss may sometimes, but not always, be present. Other related symptoms to HAIR-AN syndrome include enlarged clitoris, increased libido, glucose intolerance, irregular menstruation, increased blood pressure, infertility. Obesity is also one such symptoms in some women, and is also marked in women affected by PCOS, hirsutism, acanthosis nigricans.

Features	Manifestations
Hyperandrogenism	Hirsutism of the face, chin, chest, perineum
	Alopecia (hair loss from the vertex or crown areas of the scalp; bitemporal hair loss less frequent)
	Male body habitus (muscularity)
	Acne
	Clitorimegaly
	Menstrual dysfunction (amenorrhea, infertility)
	Increased libido
Insulin resistance	Polydipsia, polyuria (symptoms of insulin resistance are often subclinical)
Acanthosis nigricans	Verrucous, velvety hyperpigmentation on nape of neck, vulva, axillae, groin, umbilicus, submammary regions; increased skin tags
Obesity	Increased waist-to-hip ratio (android appearance)

Causes

Causes of HAIR-AN syndrome are not yet discovered or are not specifically known. But depending on some tests and data collected, HAIR-AN syndrome is thought to be caused by "both genetic and environmental" conditions or factors. And although it might be uncertain of what particularly caused HAIR-AN syndrome, one could just go and find out how hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance and acanthosis nigricans are caused, as these three are the leading contributors to HAIR-AN syndrome, which indirectly signifies that HAIR-AN syndrome is caused by these three. Knowing the cause of these three might provide one with some useful data that connects or links with the causes of HAIR-AN syndrome. SAHA syndrome is also taken in consider among the source that cause HAIR-An syndrome.

Diagnosis

The preferable way to diagnose the presence of this syndrome would be to use the help of clinical tests and medical reports after the tests and examinations. Now being aware of the subject that HAIR-AN syndrome is caused by genetic, environmental factors and also the hyperandogenism, insulin resistance and acanthosis nigricans, some of the way we could diagnosis this syndrome is by looking for signs in the body for symptoms leading to relate to those key contributors discussed above.

According to studies HAIR-AN is to be found in 1% to 3% women possessing hyperandrogenism. It is an established concept in physiopathology that the androgen in the female body is produced by the stromal ovarian cells, when stimulated by the LH and HCG. The observed activity of these cells was elevated by insulin, and later was found to be used as a determining element to find how severe the hirsutism was. Physicians must look for obesity, as it is also a diagnostic factor in many possible cases.

Treatment

HAIR-AN syndrome as discussed earlier is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. It is found out that women affected by this syndrome or PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) are generally accompanied by obesity. Weight loss is most suggested way to combat this syndrome and is helpful for reducing insulin resistance of the body. It is also a good way to have a control on diet. This might help the body to refunction properly and show some resistance to HAIR-AN syndrome. "Suppression of gonadotropin with estrogen-progesterone oral contraceptives" or can say as reducing hyperandrogenism by the use of estoprogestatif can reduce production of androgen by ovaries by cutting down the LH (leutinizing hormone) level in body. Even their sex hormone binding to globulin increase is also responsible for decreasing body's bio-availability of testosterone. There are also few pills of new progestins, such as desogestrel and norgestimate. This pills appear to have fewer androgenic side effects and may be safer to use in persons with abnormal lipid levels or hirsutism. Some antiandrogenic agents can be also used alone or combining it with other oral pills.

"Spironolactone inhibit the actions of testosterone by binding to its receptors." The standard dose for its use is considered to be 50 to 100 mg twice a day. This might lead to irregular menstrual bleeding, which can be improved by oral contraceptives. Flutamide, another antiandorgen that is used to treat HAIR-AN syndrome, but it has risk of hepatotoxicity. Finasteride is a 5α-reductase inhibitor which can reduces the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. It is useful in the treatment of hirsutism with a dosages as low as 5 mg per day.

Insulin-resistant patients can also be treated with metformin which has shown promising results to reduce the insulin resistivity. Metformin improves peripheral tissue sensitivity to insulin but inhibits hepatic glucose formation. The drug reduces the levels of circulating insulin and androgens. Women have shown improved reproductive functioning after the use of metformin.

See also

• SAHA syndrome
• Skin lesion
• List of cutaneous conditions