Study on the Insulin Resistance According to Obesity in the Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome / 대한산부인과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogenous dysfunctional endocrinologic disorder with unknown etiology, clinically characterized by obesity, chronic anovulation, masculinization and infertility. Recently, the association between polycystic ovarian syndrome and insulin resistance have been brought up and insulin resistance is one of the most important factor related to the development of obesity. However, not all polycystic ovarian syndrome patients are obese, it would give a clue to understanding pathophysiology of obesity and PCOS if insulin resistance could be classified according to the degree of obesity in PCOS. Thus, we performed this prospective study to know the relationship between insulin resistance and obesity in the patients with PCOS. METHODS: Fourty eight polycystic ovary patients were included at Samsung Cheil Hospital from April to October 2002. These patients were grouped according to obeseness. HOMA index was used to evaluate insulin resistance calculated by using fasting blood sugar and serum insulin level. RESULTS: Twenty patients (41%) were classified as obese group, twenty eight patients (59%) had normal body mass index. Increased insulin resistance was observed in the patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome. And it was significantly higher in the obese patients compared to the patients with normal body mass index (6.8+/-2.8 vs. 2.7+/-0.9, t-test, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: For increased insulin resistance, immediate management would be needed in the patients of polycystic ovarian syndrome, especially combined with obesity.