The study was aimed to find out the prevalence of non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NC-CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHdef) among Greek women with hirsutism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to compare the results of ACTH stimulated 17-hydroxyprogesterone 60 min (17-OHP60) values, with human leukocyte antigens (HLA) phenotypes, in any patient diagnosed as having NC-CAH. One hundred and seven women with hirsutism and PCOS were included in the study. All were presented at the Reproductive Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic with hirsutism and PCOS. After ACTH stimulation test, 10 women were diagnosed as having NC-CAH because of high 17-OHP60 values ≥36 nmol/l, and 97 as having PCOS. Ten (10.3%) of the 97 women presented hormonal findings compatible with adrenal hyper-response due to ACTH testing, because of hyperstimulated 17-OHP60 values ≥21 nmol/l and <32 nmol/l. The HLA typing of 10 patients with NC-CAH revealed the phenotypes B14, DR1, B35, B7 and B44 which present positively genetic linkage disequilibrium with 21-OHdef, as reported in the literature. In conclusion: In Greek women with hirsutism and PCOS we have found that: a. The prevalence of NC-CAH among these women is relatively high and reaches at 10%. b. The HLA phenotypes B14, DR1, B35, B7 and B44 were found in high frequency in these NC-CAH patients. c. Adrenal NC-CAH due to 21-OHdef as well as adrenal hyperactivity, revealed after ACTH testing, constitutes an important reason of hirsutism and PCOS in these Greek women and both reach a rate of 20%.

Aims: To correlate the values of MBG to HbA1c in Greek patients with Type 2 diabetes and/or metabolic syndrome. Methods: We followed up 140 Greek adult patients: 92 patients with Type 2 diabetes treated with insulin or oral glucose-lowering medication, and 48 patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome not receiving any treatment. MBG was calculated for each patient from self-measurements of blood glucose using a portable glucometer, made six times a day (before eating and 2 h after a meal), three times a week for 1 month. HbA1c was determined by HPLC at 0 and 12 weeks. Results: HbA1c at 0 (x) and 12 weeks (y) correlated strongly (y = 0.790x + 1.115, r = 0.92), confirming that the patient's glycaemic status remained stable during the whole period of follow-up. Linear regression was performed on MBG values; HbA1c at 12 weeks, sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and patient status (Type 2 diabetes treated or not) were used as independent variables. None of the independent variables reached statistical significance in the model, with the exception of HbA1c at 12 weeks. The final model was: MBG (mg/dl) = (34.74 × HbA1c) - 79.21, r = 0.93; or MBG (mmol/l) = 1.91 × HbA1c - 4.36, r = 0.93. Conclusions: Our results establish for the first time a strong correlation between MBG and HbA1c in Type 2 diabetic patients and support the idea of expressing HbA1c results as MBG. This will help patients to gain a clearer interpretation of the result, with less confusion. This simplification will allow every person with diabetes using home glucose-monitoring to understand his or her own target level. © 2008 The Authors.