Inappropriate Gonadotropin Secretion in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Relationship with Clinical, Hormonal and Metabolic Characteristics

• Published in: Obstetrics & gynecology science Vol. 54; no. 11; pp. 659 - 665
• Main Authors: A Ra Shim, Yu Im Hwang, Kyung Jin Lim, Young Mi Choi, Young Eun Jeon, Seok Kyo Seo, Si Hyun Cho, Young Sik Choi, Byung Seok Lee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한산부인과학회 15.11.2011
• Subjects: Follicle stimulating hormone; FSH; LH; LH/FSH ratio; Luteinizing hormone; Polycystic ovary syndrome
• ISSN: 2287-8572

Objective To evaluate the clinical, hormonal and metabolic characteristics according to luteinizing hormone (LH)/follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods A total of 225 women with PCOS were included in this study. They were divided into two groups according to LH/FSH ratio; group A (LH/FSH < 2, n=160) and group B (LH/FSH > 2, n=65). We compared clinical, hormonal and metabolic characteristics including age at menarche, body mass index (BMI), blood pressures, ovarian volume, and serum androgen levels between the two groups. Serum glucose and insulin levels, fasting glucose/insulin ratio, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and lipid profi les were also compared between the two groups. Pearson correlation coeffi cients were used to evaluate correlation between the LH/FSH ratio and various parameters. Results Age of menarche in the group B was signifi cantly later than that in the group A. BMI, waist-hip ratio and blood pressures were signifi cantly lower in the group B compared to those of the group A. Ovarian volume and serum levels of LH, estradiol, total testosterone, sex-hormone binding globulin, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (OHP), and high density lipoprotein were signifi cantly higher in the group B. Postprandial 2 hours glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR were signifi cantly higher in the group A. After adjustment of BMI, the LH/FSH ratio was signifi cantly positively correlated with age at menarche, ovarian volume, total testosterone levels, and 17-OHP levels. Conclusion The inappropriate gonadotropin secretion may be negatively correlated with BMI, and positively with age of menarche and increased ovarian androgen production irrespective of BMI in women with PCOS. However, it may not be associated with metabolic characteristics.