Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Is Associated With Endothelial Dysfunction

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 103; no. 10; pp. 1410 - 1415
• Main Authors: Paradisi, Giancarlo, Steinberg, Helmut O., Hempfling, Annette, Cronin, Jessica, Hook, Ginger, Shepard, Marguerite K., Baron, Alain D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 13.03.2001; American Heart Association, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Androgens - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure; Endothelium, Vascular - metabolism; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; Female; Glucose - metabolism; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Leg - blood supply; Lipid Metabolism; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Obesity; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - metabolism; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - pathology; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - physiopathology; Regional Blood Flow; Risk Factors; Statistics as Topic; Testosterone - metabolism; Vasodilation; Endocrinopathy; Human; Obesity; Androgen; Pathophysiology; Nutrition disorder; Clinical form; Female sterility; Exploration; Polycystic ovary; Insulin; Female genital diseases; Endothelium; Ovarian diseases; Target tissue resistance; Cyst; Female; Benign neoplasm; Sex steroid hormone; Vascular wall; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.103.10.1410

Background —We recently reported endothelial dysfunction as a novel cardiovascular risk factor associated with insulin resistance/obesity. Here, we tested whether hyperandrogenic insulin-resistant women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who are at increased risk of macrovascular disease display impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation and whether endothelial function in PCOS is associated with particular metabolic and/or hormonal characteristics. Methods and Results —We studied leg blood flow (LBF) responses to graded intrafemoral artery infusions of the endothelium-dependent vasodilator methacholine chloride (MCh) and to euglycemic hyperinsulinemia in 12 obese women with PCOS and in 13 healthy age- and weight-matched control subjects (OBW). LBF increments in response to MCh were 50% lower in the PCOS group than in the OBW group ( P <0.01). Euglycemic hyperinsulinemia increased LBF above baseline by 30% in the PCOS and 60% in OBW group ( P <0.05 between groups). Across all subjects, the maximal LBF response to MCh exhibited a strong inverse correlation with free testosterone levels ( r =−0.52, P <0.007). This relationship was stronger than with any other parameter, including insulin sensitivity. Conclusions —PCOS is characterized by (1) endothelial dysfunction and (2) resistance to the vasodilating action of insulin. This endothelial dysfunction appears to be associated with both elevated androgen levels and insulin resistance. Given the central vasoprotective role of endothelium, these findings could explain, at least in part, the increased risk for macrovascular disease in women with PCOS.