title: Color Doppler analysis in oligo- and amenorrheic women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether amenorrheic women have more severe blood flow variations and clinical-endocrinological patterns in comparison with oligomenorrheic polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. Twenty oligomenorrheic women (cycle length > 35 days; Group I), and 20 amenorrheic women (no vaginal bleeding for at least 6 months; Group II) were submitted to ultrasonographic evaluation of ovarian volume, follicle distribution, number and diameter, color Doppler analysis of uterine and intraovarian blood flow, hormonal assay of different compartments, and plasma evaluation of lipid profile. The number of subcapsular small-sized follicles, and the ovarian volume, androstenedione and luteinizing hormone (LH) plasma levels, and the LH/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio were significantly higher in the amenorrheic group compared with the oligomenorrheic patients. Furthermore, significantly lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and HDL/total cholesterol ratio were observed in Group II compared with Group I. In addition, in Group II, higher resistance in the uterine arteries and lower impedance to blood flow in the intraovarian arteries have been shown. The assessment of ovarian morphology by transvaginal ultrasound and Doppler flow analysis of both intraovarian and uterine arteries in patients with PCOS may provide an insight into the pathological state and the degree of progression of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction, University of Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Artini
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Genazzani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gremigni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvatori
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sgherzi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giulini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volpe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D009839:Oligomenorrhea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002784:Cholesterol