Endocrine Abstracts

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have twice the risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS) compared to women from the general population. Mothers and sisters of affected women also have an increased prevalence of MetS. We undertook this study to evaluate whether these abnormalities are also present in brothers’ of affected women.

Design and setting: A total of 59 brothers (age ≥18 and ≤40 years) of women with PCOS and 59 healthy men (of same age) as controls without any first degree female relatives with PCOS visiting endocrine clinic were included in the study. They underwent anthropometric measurements (BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist hip ratio (WHR)), 75 gm oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); fasting insulin and fasting lipids measurements.

Results: The prevalence of MetS was increased in brothers (29 vs 8%; P=0.001) compared to the controls. Brothers had higher BMI (28±1.9 vs 23±1.1 kg/m²), WC (95±11.2 vs 81±9.9 cm) and WHR than controls. Fasting insulin levels (29±2.6 vs 15±1.6 uIU/ml), LDL cholesterol (125±12 vs 109±9 mg/dl) and triglyceride levels (138±13 vs 119±10 mg/dl) were also higher compared to controls and HDL levels (42±5 vs 49±3 mg/dl) were lower in the study group. OGTT also revealed the diagnosis of diabetes in four and IGT in 14 brothers’ of women with PCOS.

Conclusion: Brothers’ of women with PCOS had increased prevalence rates of MetS and obesity as compared to control population. This implies that brothers’ of women with PCOS should also be evaluated to detect previously undiagnosed metabolic abnormalities.