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Relationship between body mass index and endothelial dysfunction in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome
Author(s) -
Adler Tessa E,
Usselman Charlotte W,
Anaeto Laura C,
Schapiro Rebecca G,
Steele Frances E,
Toffoloni Nikoletta,
Takamata Akira,
Taylor Hugh S,
Stachenfeld Nina S
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.691.8
Subject(s) - endothelial dysfunction , medicine , polycystic ovary , brachial artery , body mass index , endocrinology , obesity , blood pressure , insulin resistance
The flow‐mediated dilation test is a clinical index of endothelial health. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reproductive endocrinopathy affecting ~1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS are at risk for endothelial dysfunction, so we hypothesized that they would have a blunted flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) response relative to controls. We tested 4 women diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria (age: 30 (6) y, BMI: 26.7 (8.3) kg/m 2 , range 21.3–40.0 kg/m 2 ) and 4 similarly aged controls (age: 27 (9) y, BMI: 27.6 (9.2) kg/m 2 , range 18.9–40.2 kg/m 2 ). To assess FMD in the brachial artery of the right arm, brachial diameter was measured at baseline followed by five minutes of occlusion at suprasystolic pressure, and the hyperemic response was monitored for three minutes. Peak diameter was identified and expressed relative to baseline (%FMD). The FMD response was slightly blunted in women with PCOS (8.00 (3.02)%) relative to controls (9.89 (2.73)%). Linear regression analysis revealed an inverse correlation between %FMD and BMI in control women (r 2 = 0.61); however, there was a positive correlation between %FMD and BMI within women with PCOS (r 2 =0.55). These data suggest that women with PCOS have impaired endothelial function relative to women without PCOS. Further, it appears that BMI predicts endothelial dysfunction only in healthy women. In women with PCOS, endothelial dysfunction occurs independently of BMI. The pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease risk in PCOS is multifaceted and related to risk factors associated with PCOS, such as hormonal imbalance, sympathetic nervous system activation, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. Support or Funding Information Supported by The John B. Pierce Laboratory and the American Heart Association (15POST24990003).