Timothy F. Kirn
Women in their early 20s who have polycystic ovary syndrome have signs indicative of a risk of early heart disease, even when their weight is normal, Dr. Francesco Orio Jr. and his colleagues reported.
The researchers matched 30 young women with polycystic ovary syndrome who had body mass indexes in the normal range with 30 age- and BMI-matched women without PCOS.
They looked at a number of serum, hormonal levels, and metabolic markers. They also performed ultrasound examinations of their carotid arteries to gauge intima-media thickness, and measured flow-mediated dilation of the brachial arteries.
The PCOS patients had a significantly greater mean intima-media thickness compared with controls (0.53 mm versus 0.39 mm). They also had less difference in flow-mediated dilation and higher levels of endothelin-1 (J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 89[9]:4588-93, 2004).
All of those elements are known, well-documented markers of endothelial functional impairment and preatherosclerotic disease, said Dr. Orio of the University Federico II in Naples Italy, and associates.
Higher endothelin levels have been shown to occur with obesity, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and diabetes. Insulin resistance is probably the initial condition that triggers increase in endothelin-1, as insulin has been demonstrated to stimulate secretion both in vitro and in vivo. Intima-media thickness has been shown to be influenced by androgens.
COPYRIGHT 2004 International Medical News Group
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
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Young, nonobese PCOS patients have cardiac risk 
