THE SPECTRUM OF BIOCHEMICAL, HORMONAL, AND METABOLIC CHANGES – A DETERMINING FACTOR IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PSYCHOSOCIAL AND MEDICAL IMPLICATIONS OF POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

Abstract

The aim of the study is to evaluate a group of women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), compared to a control group consisting of healthy women, in order to reveal the hormonal and metabolic changes characteristic of PCOS. The study was conducted over a period of two years, in the Gynecology Clinics, of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania. Material and methods: We analyzed a case group of 34 patients, aged 20-38 years, with the diagnosis of PCOS, and a control group of 30 healthy women of similar ages. Besides the usual analysis, the study focuses on the hormonal and metabolic investigations of women diagnosed with PCOS. The results of hormonal evaluation in the study group are the following: the mean value of plasma leutinizing hormone (LH) was 18.10 ± 9.87 mUI/mL and the ratio of the LH to follicle stimulating hormone (LH/FSH) was 2.41, the value of plasma estradiol was 136.43 ± 86.21 pg/mL, the value of progesterone was 4.72 ± 3.46 ng/mL, the total plasma testosterone was 1.38 ± 0.53 ng/mL and free testosterone was 8.87 ± 1.91 pg/mL. The results of metabolic evaluation in the study group are the following: the glucose tolerance test at 2 hours had a mean value of 147.27 ± 13.73 mg/dL, the value of plasma cholesterol was 187.22 ± 33.67 mg/dL, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL C) level was 38.25 ± 11.22 mg/dL, low density lipoprotein (LDL C) level was 124.43 ± 34.12 mg/dL and serum triglycerides value was 117.47 ± 34.69 mg/dL. Conclusions: Hormonal and metabolic evaluation in the study group indicate the importance of the early diagnosis and personalized management of all patients with PCOS, in order to prevent complications.

Keywords

• polycystic ovary syndrome; increased luteinizing hormone; anovulation; increased insulin resistance; metabolic syndrome