Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies in women. In recent years revised diagnostic criteria for PCOS in adolescent females were disseminated. These new criteria notably encompass the specification of irregular menstrual cycles and hyperandrogenism, with the exclusion of polycystic ovarian morphology. In our study, we aimed to verify whether the clinical presentation of adolescent patients meeting the new criteria is associated with an increased risk of metabolic disorders in adulthood.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical records of adolescent patients in a singular medical center scrutinizing individuals with PCOS (meeting adolescent or Rotterdam criteria). Subsequently, after 4 to 11 years from the first visit, 35 women were reassessed with 19 meeting the new criteria as adolescents (study group, SG) and 16 serving as controls (CG) – not meeting adolescent criteria. Comprehensive blood tests encompassed assessments of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lipids, insulin, and glucose. A concurrent clinical assessment complemented the laboratory analyses. Statistical analyses were conducted utilizing Student’s T-test and Pearson’s correlation.

Results: In SG, 8 out of 19 individuals (42%) are afflicted with obesity as opposed to CG comprising 4 (25%) individuals living with obesity. The disparity in BMI values between the groups in this cohort did not attain statistical significance (SG 30.3±8.9 kg/m² vs CG 26.4±6.6 kg/m²; P=0.16). However, analyzed data revealed a significant increase in BMI between the first and second assessment in SG (Δ=2.0±3.7 kg/m²; P=0.03), which was not observed in CG (Δ=1.4±3.9 kg/m²; P=0.17). Other significant differences were identified in AST(SG 23.4±5.9 U/l vs CG 19.3±3.6U/L; P=0.02), ALT (SG 24.0±14.2U/L vs CG 15.9±6.2U/l; P=0.04), and insulin levels (SG 13.0±8.5uIU/ml vs CG 7.9±3.8uIU/ml; P=0.03). There was no significant difference in lipids and glucose levels between the groups. The study further unveiled a significant correlation in SG between testosterone levels during adolescence and glucose levels in adulthood (r=0.91, P<0.05).

Conclusion: Our study on PCOS patients, diagnosed using adolescent criteria, reveals a significant increase in BMI within the SG over time. Despite non-significant BMI differences between SG and CG, notable variations in AST, ALT, and insulin levels were observed in SG. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing and managing of PCOS during adolescence to mitigate potential metabolic risks in adulthood.