ABSTRACT
To verify if in lean polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] patients, the smoking habitude might increase the risk of cardiovascular [CV] disease. In this prospective observational study, eighty-one women were divided into the following three groups: group I with 27 non-smokers, group II with 26 light-smokers [1-10 cigarettes/day], and group III with 28 heavy smokers [>10 cigarettes/ day]. They were submitted to fasting blood sampling; blood measurement of nitrites/nitrates [NO[2]-/ NO[3]], biochemical and hormonal parameters; ovarian ultrasonographic [US] analysis; doppler evaluation of uterine and ophthalmic arteries; brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatation; 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring; and oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT]. Doppler analysis revealed higher uterine and ophthalmic arteries pulsatility index [PI] and ophthalmic artery back pressure in group III compared with group I. The brachial artery diameter and PI, at baseline, was similar among all groups. After the reactive hyperemia, a more intense vasodilatation was observed in group I in comparison with group III. The 24-hour blood pressure demonstrated that, in group III patients, the 24-hour, day- and night-time diastolic blood pressure [DBP], was higher in comparison with non-smokers. The atherogenic index of plasma [AIP] was higher in heavy smokers than in non-smokers. The leukocytes and homocysteine [HCY] values were increased in group III. The NO[2]-/ NO[3]- plasma levels were reduced in heavy smokers in comparison with non-smokers. The insulin, glucose and C-peptide plasma values were higher in group III than in other groups. In heavy smokers, the estimates of insulin sensitivity [ISI] and pancreatic beta-cell function [HOMA-B] were higher compared to the other groups. Smoking habitude in lean PCOS patients may increase the soft markers of CV risk