title: Polycystic ovary syndrome: clinical and laboratory evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate clinically, and with laboratory, tests, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twelve women with PCO were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following data was recorded: Current age; age at menarche; menstrual irregularity, occurrence of similar cases in the family; fertility, obstetric history; body mass index (BMI); and presence of hirsutism. Serum measurements of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, free testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were taken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients presented either oligomenorrhea (31 percent), periods of secondary amenorrhea (9 percent), or both alterations (60 percent). The majority of the patients were infertile (75.6 percent). The LH/FSH ratio was higher than 2:1 in 55 percent of the patients and higher than 3:1 in 26.2 percent. The ultrasonographic aspect of the ovaries was considered to be normal in 31 percent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main clinical feature of the PCO is the irregularity of menses since menarche, and that the laboratory tests would be important to exclude other disorders such as hyperprolactinemia or hyperandrogenemia caused by late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Baracat
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Pardini
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Haidar
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: da Motta
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: de Lima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies