Endocrine Abstracts

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by insulin resistance with compensatory hyperinsulinemia. Insulin resistance also plays a role in the metabolic syndrome. PCOS women with metabolic syndrome have more hyperandrogenism and menstrual cycle irregularity than women with PCOS only.

The aim of the study was to determine the difference in the level of lipids, CRP, androgens and prolactins between PCOS women with metabolic syndrome and PCOS women without metabolic syndrome.

Methods: The study included 47 women with PCOS evaluated in our clinic. The women were divided into two groups: 1) women with PCOS and the metabolic syndrome (n=26, age 30.9±8 yr, BMI=30.7±2.1 kg/m²; WHR=0.9) and 2) women with PCOS without metabolic syndrome (n=20, age 29.5±7.5 yr, BMI=23.7±1.7 kg/m²; WHR=0.8). Laboratory evaluation included lipids, CRP, TSH, PRL, FSH, LH, E2, progesterone, testosterone, androstendion, DHEAS, insulin levels during OGTT.

Results: PCOS women with metabolic syndrome had significantly higher levels of serum testosterone (3.23±0.81 vs. 2.2±0.67 nmol/l, P<0.05) than women with PCOS without the metabolic syndrome. Levels of total cholesterol (6.56±0.91 vs. 5.6±0,9 mmol/l), LDL cholesterol (4.63±1.2 vs. 3.3±0.7 mmol/l), CRP (5.6±1.2 vs. 2.7±1.1 mg/l) and prolactin (623±179 vs. 373±121 uIU/ml) were also higher in PCOS women with metabolic syndrome. Menstrual cycle irregularity was frequently in group PCOS women with metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion: The high level of lipids, CRP, androgens and prolactin suggest that the metabolic syndrome in women with PCOS increased risk for cardiovascular disease.