Hirsutism&virilism

Hirsutism&virilism د.سها وتوت

Hirsutism:
Is the growth of terminal hair on the body of a woman in the same pattern & sequence as that which developed in post-pubertal male.


Normal hair growth: there are 2 major types of hair
1. vellus hair: are fine , lightly pigmented & cover most of the body& produced by smaller hair follicle.
2. terminal hair are larger & pigmented& found mostly on the scalp, eye brow& eyelashes prior to puberty& after puberty are present in the axilla, pubic area & male beard.

Human hair growth occur in 3 phases:
1. anagen: the growing phase
2. catagen: hair stop growing
3. telogen: arresting phase

transformation of vellus hair to terminal hair at puberty in the axilla, pubic area& male beard area is driven by systemic androgen.
Hirsutism is the result of the change in the quality, size, degree of pigmentation& length of the hair produced by individual follicle.

Incidence:
It affect about 9% of female

Pathogenesis:
The active form of testosterone(dihydrotestoestrone) interact with dermal papilla’s androgen receptors result in increase the size of hair follicle& the type of hair produced by this follicle.
Hirsutism occur in about 60-70% of patient with PCOS.