Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: The aim of study was to explore the effects of subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) treatment in PCOS women with metabolic syndrome (MS) and PCOS women without MS.

Methods: The 34 PCOS women were divided in two groups: 1) PCOS women with SH and the MS (n=23, age 32.9±9 years, BMI=31.2±3.1 kg/m²; waist size=87 cm) and 2) PCOS women with SH without MS (n=11, age 30.5±7.5 years, BMI=23.4±1.5 kg/m²; waist size=75 cm). The diagnosis of PCOS was established according to the clinical, hormonal (elevated LH and serum androgens) and ultrasonographic findings. The diagnosis of SH was established according to the TSH>4.2 mIU/ml with normal level of FT3 and FT4. The diagnosis of MS was established according to the high waist size and high insulin and lipids level. All patients were treated with low dose of L-thyroxin (25–50 μg).

Results: PCOS and SH women with MS had significantly higher levels of serum testosterone than PCOS and SH women without the MS (3.42±0.91 vs 2.14±0.77 nmol/l), significantly higher TSH (9.52 vs 5.78 mIU/l), and levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, CRP. Menstrual cycle irregularity was frequently in group PCOS and SH women with MS. After the six months treatment, women had normal or limited TSH, level of PRL significantly decreased (from 639 to 435 and from 393 to 310 μIU/ml) and level of CRP (from 5.7 to 3.8 and from 3.7 to 2.7 mg/l) in both group. In PCOS and SH group with MS significantly decreased fasting insulin (from 211 to 143), BMI (from 32.9 to 27.1), testosterone (from 3.42 to 2.7) and waist size (from 87 to 81) as well. The changes were and in the level of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL cholesterol. The correlation between TSH and amenorrhoea was significant (r=0.41).

Conclusion: These data support an important role of SH treatment in support metabolic control and insulin sensitivity in PCOS women.