Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy in women in reproductive age. A condition that causes irregular menstrual periods because monthly ovulation is interrupted and levels of androgens are elevated. It occurs in about 5–10% of women and is considered to be the most common cause of anovulatory infertility in reproductive age.

Objectives: To compare the prevalence, levels of thyroid auto-antibodies in a group of Egyptian women with PCOS and a control group in reproductive age to determine whether women with PCOS have a greater risk of thyroid autoimmune diseases, thyroid dysfunction or not.

Patients and methods: This study was conducted on 45 euthyroid women with PCOS and 18 healthy women as a control in the Outpatient Clinics of Endocrinology, Ain Shams University Hospital. PCOS was defined by the revised 2003 Rotterdam criteria. Thyroid function was evaluated by measurement of TSH and FT₄ levels, anti-thyroid peroxidase, and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TPO and anti-TG respectively) as markers for thyroid autoimmunity. All parameters were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.

Results: Women with PCOS had a significantly higher levels of anti-TPO in comparison to controls (27±10 and 21±10 IU/ml, respectively; P<0.05) with no significant difference in anti-TG, TSH, or FT₄ between the two groups. Patients with PCOS had a non-significant higher prevalence of positive anti-TG and/or anti-TPO in comparison to controls (40 and 22.2%, respectively; P>0.05), anti-TPO alone (28.9 and 16.7, respectively; P>0.05), and anti-TG alone (22.2 and 11.1%, respectively; P>0.05).

Conclusions: Women with PCOS had a significantly higher levels of anti-TPO than controls that may put them at a higher risk for thyroid autoimmune disease.