Association of clinical androgen excess with radial artery intima media thickness in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

This study explores the relationship between clinical cardiovascular risk factors and clinical androgen excess, with direct comparison to radial artery intima media thickness (rIMT). rIMT of 91 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were compared with 72 healthy women. Patients were divided into three groups with regard to body mass index (BMI). Group1 = 56 women (31 controls and 25 PCOS) with low BMI(18-22.49 kg/m(2)), Group2 = 36 women (15 controls and 21 PCOS) with normal BMI (22.5-24.99 kg/m(2)) and Group3 = 71 women (26 controls and 45 PCOS) with high BMI (25-30 kg/m(2)). rIMT was significantly higher in patients with PCOS (p = 0.007). rIMT was significantly higher group1 and group3 in patients with PCOS compared to controls (p = 0.007 and p = 0.042, respectively). There was a significant positive association between rIMT levels and fT in women with PCOS in group1 (r = 0.24, p = 0.04). rIMT levels correlated to fT levels in women with PCOS in group3 (r = 0.32, p = 0.03). Modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mFG) scores demonstrated a positive association with free testosterone, total testosterone, free androgen index, waist circumference (WC), LH levels, insulin levels, Homeostasis Model Assessment index(HOMA-IR), rIMT and a negative correlation with sex hormone binding globulin in group1 and group2. mFG scores demonstrated a positive association with free testosterone (r = 0.33, p = 0.029) in group3, but no association was found between mFG and WC, HOMA-IR in group3. Our findings indicate that clinical androgen excess may be associated with cardiovascular disease in patients with PCOS.

Metastin levels in relation with hormonal and metabolic profile in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum concentrations of metastin in relation with hormonal and metabolic profile in patients with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). STUDY DESIGN: The study was a clinical study. Eighty-three women with PCOS and 66 body mass index (BMI) matched controls were divided into two groups, based on BMI: overweight and obese (BMI≥25 kg/m(2)) and normal weight. (BMI<25 kg/m(2)) Hirsutism scores, hormonal and metabolic profile as well as metastin levels were evaluated in each subject. Blood samples were collected in the early follicular phase (between day 2 and day 5 of the menstrual cycle) at 9:00 AM, after an overnight fast. Circulating levels of LH, FSH, PRL, TSH, T, fT, DHEAS, 17-OH-P, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), insulin, glucose, lipid profile and metastin were measured. RESULTS: Metastin levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group compared to controls (2.02 ng/ml versus 1.16 ng/ml, p<0.001). Metastin levels correlated significantly positively with luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosteronesulphate (DHEA-SO4) levels, modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mFG) scores and free androgen index (FAI); however, correlated negatively with sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels (p<0.05). When overweight or obese (BMI≥25 kg/m(2)) and normal weight (BMI<25 kg/m(2)) women with PCOS were compared to body mass index (BMI) matched controls, higher metastin levels were also found in PCOS groups (1.94 ng/ml versus 1.18 ng/ml, and 2.06 ng/ml versus 1.08 ng/ml, p<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that metastin levels were higher in women with PCOS as compared to controls regardless of BMI. Furthermore, metastin levels can be used as a specific marker for androgenic profile and this marker might play a role in the pathogenesis of PCOS.