Premium
Color Doppler analysis in lean and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Author(s) -
Battaglia C.,
Artini P. G.,
Genazzani A. D.,
Sgherzi M. R.,
Salvatori M.,
Giulini S.,
Volpe A.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.1996.07050342.x
Subject(s) - polycystic ovary , medicine , endocrinology , uterine artery , hematocrit , body mass index , luteinizing hormone , androstenedione , insulin , hormone , androgen , insulin resistance , pregnancy , biology , gestation , genetics
The objective of this study was to determine whether obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) show different ovarian and uterine blood flow patterns in comparison with lean patients. Sixteen obese (body mass index: BMI = 31.4 ± 3.4 kg/m²) and 22 lean (BMI = 21.1 ± 1.3 kg/m²) PCOS patients underwent, in the early follicular phase if oligomenorrheic or randomly if amenorrheic, ultrasonographic evaluation of ovarian volume, echodensity and follicle number; transvaginal color Doppler evaluation of uterine and intraovarian blood flow; and radioimmunological assay of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, growth hormone, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, insulin, insulin‐like growth factor I, and other hormonal parameters. Hematocrit, plasma glucose, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein and triglycerides were also evaluated. Insulin levels were significantly higher in the obese group, whereas levels of growth hormone were significantly lower. Moreover, a more adverse lipid profile was observed in overweight patients. This was associated with higher hematocrit values. At Doppler analysis, a significantly higher mean uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) was observed in the obese group. Furthermore, the PI was inversely correlated with high density lipoprotein values ( r = −0.4820; p <0.05). In both groups, androstenedione was correlated with the uterine PI. The above findings may, in part, explain the increased risk in women with PCOS of developing cardiovascular diseases, and emphasize that obesity may further increase the risk. Copyright © 1996 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology