Early Impairment of Endothelial Structure and Function in Young Normal-Weight Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 89; no. 9; pp. 4588 - 4593
• Main Authors: Orio, Francesco, Palomba, Stefano, Cascella, Teresa, De Simone, Biagio, Di Biase, Sebastiano, Russo, Tiziana, Labella, Donato, Zullo, Fulvio, Lombardi, Gaetano, Colao, Annamaria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Endocrine Society 01.09.2004; Copyright by The Endocrine Society
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure; Endocrinopathies; Endothelin-1 - blood; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glucose Tolerance Test; Humans; Lipids - blood; Medical sciences; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - blood; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - pathology; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - physiopathology; Tunica Intima - pathology; Vasodilation; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Human; Structure function; Endothelial cell; Body weight; Female sterility; Polycystic ovary; Female genital diseases; Ovarian diseases; Cyst; Adult; Female; Early; Benign neoplasm; Endocrinology
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2003-031867

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of early vascular damage in young normal-weight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Thirty young normal-weight women with PCOS, who had no additional metabolic or cardiovascular diseases, and 30 healthy women (controls) matched for age and body mass index were studied. A complete hormonal assay was performed in each subject. Serum insulin and glucose levels were measured at baseline and after the oral glucose tolerance test. Plasma endothelin-1 levels and serum lipid profile were also assessed. The endothelial function was studied by flow-mediated dilation on the brachial artery, and arterial structure was evaluated by intima-media thickness measurement using Doppler ultrasound of both common carotid arteries. A significant (P < 0.05) difference in flow-mediated dilation (14.3 ± 1.9% vs. 18.1 ± 2.0% for PCOS patients and controls, respectively) and in intima-media thickness (0.53 ± 0.09 mm vs. 0.39 ± 0.08 mm for PCOS patients and controls, respectively) was found between PCOS and control subjects. Serum endothelin-1 levels were also significantly (P < 0.05) higher in PCOS patients compared with controls (1.1 ± 0.4 pmol/liter vs. 0.5 ± 0.2 pmol/liter for PCOS patients and controls, respectively). In conclusion, our data show that young, normal-weight, nondyslipidemic, nonhypertensive women with PCOS have an early impairment of endothelial structure and function.