Clinical Symptoms Of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Research Articles

Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Women with Type 2 Diabetes in Kerman, Iran

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by chronic anovulation and hypergonadism that affects 5-10% of women of reproductive age. Patients with this syndrome are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in future. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of PCOS in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. One hundred consecutive women under 45 years of age with type 2 diabetes treated with diet or hypoglycemic drugs, referring to Kerman Diabetic Center, Kerman, Iran, in 2005 were identified. Patients with galactorrhea or history of thyroid dysfunction were excluded from the study. Data were collected through questionnaire-based interviews and were then analyzed. Ninety two women, of which 18 (19.5%) had clinical symptoms of PCOS, enrolled in the study. The mean age of subjects was 38.8 +/- 5.9 years. We found no significant relation between PCOS and familial type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 28.19 +/- 4.44 kg/m(2) in patients with PCOS and 26.06 +/- 3.83 kg/m(2) in non-PCOS patients (p = 0.043). The prevalence of abdominal obesity was higher among PCOS patients than non-PCOS patients (38.9% vs. 14.8%, p = 0.011). In our study, abdominal obesity was more among type 2 diabetic women with PCOS. Therefore, central or abdominal obesity might be considered as an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes in women with PCOS.

Polycystic ovaries are inherited as an autosomal dominant trait: analysis of 29 polycystic ovary syndrome and 10 control families.

The aim of this study was to obtain evidence for the genetic basis of polycystic ovaries (PCO) and premature male pattern baldness (PMPB) by screening first-degree relatives of women affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Because of the high prevalence of PCO in the general population, we also studied first-degree relatives of ten asymptomatic control volunteers of reproductive age. The probands were recruited prospectively from infertility and endocrine clinics, where they presented with various clinical symptoms of PCOS. Each had PCO, on transvaginal ultrasound scan. The families of 29 probands and 10 volunteers agreed to take part in the study. Clinical, ultrasound, and biochemical parameters were used to define PCO/PCOS. All female relatives had an ovarian ultrasound scan and hormone profile performed. History was used to assign status in postmenopausal women. All male relatives were assessed for early onset (<30 yr old) male pattern baldness, by photographs. All relatives were assigned affected (PCO/PMPB) or nonaffected status, and segregation analysis was performed. Of the relatives of 29 PCOS probands, 15 of 29 mothers (52%), 6 of 28 fathers (21%), 35 of 53 sisters (66%), and 4 of 18 brothers (22%) were assigned affected status. First-degree female relatives of affected individuals had a 61% chance of being affected. Of the first-degree male relatives, 22% were affected. Of a total of 71 siblings of PCOS probands, 39 were affected, giving a segregation ratio of 39/32 (55%), which is consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance for PCO/PMPB. In the control families, 1 of 10 probands (10%), 1 of 10 mothers (10%), no fathers, 2 of 13 sisters (15%), and 1 of 11 brothers (9%) were affected. Of a total of 24 siblings, 3 were affected (13%), giving a segregation ratio (observed/expected) of 3/12, which was significantly different from autosomal dominant inheritance. The inheritance of PCO and PMPB is consistent with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern in PCOS families, perhaps caused by the same gene. There was no such genetic influence in families of women without PCOS. Sisters of PCOS probands with polycystic ovarian morphology were more likely to have menstrual irregularity and had larger ovaries and higher serum androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate levels than sisters without PCO. This suggests a spectrum of clinical phenotype in PCOS families. Men with PMPB had higher serum testosterone than those without. Collectively, these data are consistent with a role for genetic differences in androgen synthesis, metabolism, or action in the pathogenesis of PCOS.