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Polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescence
Author(s) -
Bruni Vincenzina,
Dei Metella,
Nannini Sara,
Balzi Daniela,
Nuvolone Daniela
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05648.x
Subject(s) - polycystic ovary , overweight , endocrinology , medicine , insulin resistance , androgen , ovary , carbohydrate metabolism , obesity , physiology , hormone
The definition of polycystic ovary syndrome in very young girls is complicated by the fact that many features typical of the syndrome can also be seen as physiological stages in the maturation of the hypothalamus–pituitary–ovarian axis. The role of reduced insulin sensitivity in the pathogenesis and evolution of the disorder has gained more importance over recent years: both elevated androgen levels and being overweight may influence the impairment of glucose metabolism. Our study focused on 250 girls in the first 8 years of gynecological age. We analyzed the prevalence of different phenotypes according to the Rotterdam criteria and the impact of higher BMI on androgen levels and on fasting screening markers of glucose metabolism. In a smaller sample, we performed a more detailed evaluation of the glucose metabolism parameters; our findings indicated that in this age group, being overweight plays a major role in the deterioration of the clinical picture.