Prevalence and Characteristics of the Metabolic Syndrome in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by insulin resistance with compensatory hyperinsulinemia. Insulin resistance also plays a role in the metabolic syndrome (MBS). We hypothesized that the MBS is prevalent in PCOS and that women with both conditions would present with more hyperandrogenism and menstrual cycle irregularity than women with PCOS only. We conducted a retrospective chart review of all women with PCOS seen over a 3-yr period at an endocrinology clinic. Of the 161 PCOS cases reviewed, 106 met the inclusion criteria. The women were divided into two groups: 1) women with PCOS and the MBS (n = 46); and 2) women with PCOS lacking the MBS (n = 60). Prevalence of the MBS was 43%, nearly 2-fold higher than that reported for age-matched women in the general population. Women with PCOS had persistently higher prevalence rates of the MBS than women in the general population, regardless of matched age and body mass index ranges. Acanthosis nigricans was more frequent in women with PCOS and the MBS. Women with PCOS and the MBS had significantly higher levels of serum free testosterone (P = 0.002) and lower levels of serum SHBG (P = 0.001) than women with PCOS without the MBS. No differences in total testosterone were observed between the groups. We conclude that the MBS and its components are common in women with PCOS, placing them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Women with PCOS and the MBS differ from their counterparts lacking the MBS in terms of increased hyperandrogenemia, lower serum SHBG, and higher prevalence of acanthosis nigricans, all features that may reflect more severe insulin resistance.

Związek między stężeniami lipokaliny-2 i testosteronu wolnego w zespole policystycznych jajników

“…However, Cakal et alreported that serum lipocalin-2 concentrations significantly increased in women with PCOS versus age-and BMI-matched controls. Furthermore, lipocalin-2 was correlated with HOMA-IR, testosterone, and DHEASO 4 . It has been suggested that lipocalin-2 can reflect insulin resistance in PCOS [12].…”

“…It has been proposed that insulin resistance may have a pivotal role in the development of PCOS; nonetheless, the pathophysiology of this disease has not been wholly elucidated [4]. This syndrome is associated with a higher incidence of sub-clinical chronic inflammation, obesity, and related disorders including insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, and cardiovascular risk [2,[5][6].…”

MANAGEMENT OF ENDOCRINE DISEASE: Morbidity in polycystic ovary syndrome

“…Coronary artery calcification and echocardiographic abnormalities were more common in PCOS (51,52,53), but limited data were available from prospective studies on well-defined PCOS populations (54). A recent meta-analysis included five studies assessing risk of nonfatal and fatal coronary heart disease and stroke in women with PCOS.…”

Diverse impacts of aging on insulin resistance in lean and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: evidence from 1345 women with the syndrome

“…Furthermore, IR has been linked to oxidative stress, subclinical inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction, usually encountered in patients with PCOS. IR constitutes a prerequisite for diabetes mellitus (DM) and/or metabolic syndrome development, and consequently the increased incidence of these two morbidities in women with PCOS, compared with their BMI-matched peers, is expected (5,6,7,8,9). However, the available prospective studies reporting the significantly higher incidence of DM in women with PCOS compared with general population are few and DM is found mainly in obese women with the syndrome (10,11,12).…”