Περίληψη:
Polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS), a common endocrinopathy of women of
reproductive age, is associated with the early appearance of multiple
risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as abdominal obesity,
dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. However, premature atherosclerosis
of the carotid artery has not yet been demonstrated in young women with
PCOS. Measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is considered
an easy and reliable index of subclinical atherosclerosis, which is
predictive of subsequent myocardial infarction and stroke. To evaluate
the cardiovascular risk of PCOS and the participation of the
hyperandrogenemic and metabolic pattern, we measured carotid IMT by
B-mode ultrasound as well as hormonal and several cardiovascular
disease-associated parameters in 75 young women with PCOS and 55
healthy, age- and body mass index-matched women. The PCOS women had
significantly increased carotid IMT (0.58 vs. 0.47 mm, P < 0.001) and
abdominal adiposity; higher levels of androgens, insulin, homeostasis
model assessment score of insulin sensitivity, and total and low-density
lipoprotein-cholesterol; and significantly lower levels of SHBG and
high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol.
In the studied population (n = 130), PCOS status, age, body mass index,
and parental history of coronary heart disease were strong positive
predictors of carotid IMT, whereas dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was a
strong negative predictor. In PCOS patients lower
Delta(4)-androstenedione and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels
were additionally strong positive predictors of carotid IMT, whereas in
control women only total cholesterol was the additional positive
predictor of carotid IMT.
In conclusion, young women with PCOS have an early increase of
cardiovascular risk factors and greater carotid IMT, both of which may
be responsible for subclinical atherosclerosis. The hyperandrogenemic
phenotype of the syndrome may attenuate the consequences of the
dysmetabolic phenotype on the vascular wall.
Συγγραφείς:
Vryonidou, A
Papatheodorou, A
Tavridou, A
Terzi, T
Loi,
V
Vatalas, IA
Batakis, N
Phenekos, C and
Dionyssiou-Asteriou, A
