title: Peripheral catecholamine metabolites and menstrual irregularity in patients with polycystic ovaries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the catecholamine status of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three parallel groups with polycystic ovary were diagnosed by ultrasound: (a) 5 patients with regularly ovulatory menstruation; (b) 10 with anovulatory menstruation; (c) 13 with secondary amenorrhea who responded to progestagen with withdrawal bleeding. Blood samples for measurement of LH, testosterone, and catecholamine metabolites were drawn during cycle days 4-7.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Serum LH and testosterone of the patient groups (b) and (c) were significantly higher than those of controls. (2) Plasma 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DOPEG) and the DOPEG/DOPAC ratio were elevated in patients, and DOPAC levels were reduced. However, there was no significant difference of catecholamine metabolites among the three patient groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The androgen status in polycystic ovary diagnosed by ultrasound is correlated, but catecholamine status is not correlated, with the menstrual irregularity of polycystic ovary syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshino
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Eda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishigaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitao
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D000858:Anovulation / Q000209:etiology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; C010117:3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol