Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Growing evidences imply a role of coagulation system in the development of thromboembolic events and progression of atherosclerosis in PCOS. The aim of the study was to identify potential relationship of overall haemostatic potential (OHP) with a syndrome per se, BMI and androgens. OHP has not yet been assessed in PCOS.

Methods: In 89 women with PCOS aged 30.9±8.1 years (50 obese, 13 overweight, and 27 normal weight) and 21 healthy age matched controls (11 obese and ten normal weight) OHP with overall coagulation potential (OCP) and overall fibrinolytic potential (OFP) was determined spectrophotometrically by repeated fibrin formation and degradation registration in two parallel plasma samples. OFP was calculated as ((OCP−OHP)/OCP)×100 (%).

Results: OHP increased with BMI in PCOS (15.5±3.8 in obese, 12.5±5.1 in overweight, and 9.6±2.3 Abs-sum in normal weight) and in controls (17.3±4.6 in obese and 9.1±1.0 in normal weight). There was significant difference between obese and normal weight PCOS (P<0.001) and between obese and normal weight controls (P<0.001). OCP also increased with BMI in PCOS (28.5±5.2 in obese vs 25.7±5.2 in overweight vs 22.6±3.9 Abs-sum in normal weight; P<0.001 for obese vs normal weight) and in controls (29.0±7.1 in obese vs 22.3±3.4 Abs-sum in normal weight, P<0.001). OFP decreased with BMI in PCOS (46±6 in obese, 52±6 in overweight, and 57±6% in normal weight; P<0.001) and in controls (40±10 in obese and 59±3% in normal; P<0.001). OHP in healthy obese and PCOS obese did not differ significantly, while OHP for healthy obese was increased and OFP reduced in comparison to overweight and normal weight PCOS (P<0.001). Androgens did not affect OHP, OCP, and OFP.

Conclusion: PCOS was not associated with increased OHP when compared with BMI- and age-matched controls. However, increase in OHP was positively associated with BMI in PCOS and healthy women.