Obesity, hormonal and metabolic abnormalities in adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with metabolic abnormalities, such as dyslipidemia, obesity, glucose intolerance, which are also components of the metabolic syndrome. Central obesity and insulin resistance appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome, perhaps via subsequent steroidogenic dysregulation. Aim: The aim of the authors was to assess metabolic and hormonal abnormalities in adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome. Method: The study included 52 adolescents diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome based on the Rotterdam criteria. Anthropometric, hormonal and metabolic parameters were evaluated among all subjects. 20 healthy, age-matched, non-obese, regularly menstruating girls were used as controls. Of the 52 patients, 15 patients were born with low-birth-weight and 37 patients were born with normal birth weight. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed in all patients and controls. The age of patients was 16.8 +/- 3.1 years, and the age of controls was 16.95 +/- 2.1 years. Results: Among patients with polycystic ovary syndrome the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 35% (n = 18), while impaired fasting glucose occurred in one patient, impaired glucose tolerance in 8 patients, insulin resistance in 25 patients and metabolic syndrome in 12 patients. Serum triglyceride levels in patients and controls were 1.4 +/- 0.8 and 0.9 +/- 0.3mmol/l, respectively (p<0.05), while fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol were not different in the two groups. Metabolic abnormalities and obesity were more severe and more frequent in patients with low-birth-weight compared to those born with normal weight. There was a negative correlation between birth weight and body mass index SDS values and a positive correlation between fasting insulin levels and body mass index SDS (r = 0.37) in patients born with low-birth-weight. Conclusions: Abnormal glucose metabolism is frequently present in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome. It is possible that early diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescences may prevent some of the long-term complications associated with this syndrome.