RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the insulin resistance and serum resistin levels in women with idiopathic hirsutism compared to controls and women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three groups of women including 23 women with idiopathic hirsutism, 28 women with PCOS and 28 non-hirsute women serving as controls were included into the study. The Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), serum fasting insulin and resistin levels were compared between the groups. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences regarding the age, BMI and waist circumferences between the groups. Mean and median fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, serum resistin levels were statistically similar between the groups (p = 0.966, p = 0.378, p = 0.409 and p = 0.784, respectively). There were no correlations between the resistin, HOMA-IR, fasting insulin levels and BMI in any of the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Insulin resistance and serum resistin levels do not appear to be increased in women with idiopathic hirsutism compared to controls at similar BMI's and waist circumferences.