Are women with polycystic ovary syndrome resistant to activated protein C?
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to test the hypothesis that an increased prevalence of activated protein C (APC) resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) puts them at increased risk of miscarriage and thrombosis.


METHODS
Case control study.


METHODS
A district general hospital in the United Kingdom.


METHODS
Forty-one women with PCOS and 25 controls.


METHODS
Clinical histories, ultrasound scans, and venepunctures.


METHODS
Diagnosis of PCOS or control, clinical histories, APC resistance according to an activated partial thromboplastin time-based assay.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the proportion of women with APC resistance in both groups (three women in the PCOS group [7%] vs. one woman in the control group [4%]). The prevalence of APC resistance in the entire study population was 6.5%. In the PCOS group, 29% (12/41) gave a positive family history of thrombosis compared with 8% (2/25) in the control group. None of the women with a positive family history of thrombosis had abnormal antithrombin 111, protein C, or protein S levels.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that women with PCOS may have the same prevalence of APC resistance as the background population and that APC resistance may not put them at a higher risk of thrombosis or miscarriage compared with the case of the general population.
Atiomo
W U
WU
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter, United Kingdom. watiomo@hotmail.com
Condon
J
J
Adekanmi
O
O
Friend
J
J
Wilkin
T J
TJ
Prentice
A G
AG
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011486:Protein C / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics
D011486:Protein C