Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2013 Jul;56(4):249-255.

Carotid intima-media thickness in mainly non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome and age-matched controls

• Kim JJ
• Choi YM
• Kang JH
• Hwang KR
• Chae SJ
• Kim SM
• Ku SY
• Kim SH
• Kim JG
• Moon SY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Metabolic disturbances are well-recognized clinical features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) has been widely used as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). CIMT in women with PCOS has been investigated in many studies, but there has been only one report in the Korean population. The aim of the present study was to compare the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in young untreated Korean women with PCOS and age-matched controls, specifically by measuring their CIMT.
METHODS
CIMT was measured by one radiologist in 56 PCOS patients and 56 controls. To compare the CIMT according to PCOS phenotypes, women with PCOS were divided into two subgroups according to the presence of hyperandrogenism.
RESULTS
Although PCOS patients were more obese and had higher blood pressure and insulin resistance index than the age-matched controls, the CIMT was not different between the two groups (0.49 +/- 0.09 mm in PCOS patients vs. 0.50 +/- 0.11 mm in controls, respectively, p = 0.562). When the CIMT in the control group was compared with hyperandrogenic and non-hyperandrogenic PCOS groups, also no significant differences were found.
CONCLUSION
Despite the significant differences in some vascular risk factors between women with PCOS and controls, PCOS patients did not have a significantly higher CIMT (even in the hyperandrogenic subgroups). Although our study did not show the increased risk of subclinical atherosclerosis in PCOS patients, the role of CIMT continues to be investigated considering the importance of screening and monitoring CVD risk factors in women with PCOS.

Keyword

Atherosclerosis; Carotid intima-media thickness; Insulin resistance; Polycystic ovary syndrome

MeSH Terms

Atherosclerosis
Biomarkers
Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular Diseases
Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
Female
Humans
Insulin Resistance
Mass Screening
Phenotype
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Risk Factors

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