Ovarian size and blood flow in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and their correlations with endocrine parameters.
OBJECTIVE
To determine how common polycystic ovarian morphology may be in women given the clinical diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) based on chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism and whether certain hormonal factors correlate with ovarian morphology and blood flow.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Two academic endocrinology centers in Italy.


METHODS
Three hundred twenty-six women with PCOS and 50 age-matched and weight-matched ovulatory women.


METHODS
Ultrasound assessment of ovarian morphology in patients and controls and ovarian blood flow and fasting hormone levels in a subset of 50 patients and matched controls.


METHODS
Ovarian morphological assessments, ovarian blood flow by pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI), and measurements of gonadotropins, estrogen, sex hormone-binding globulin, androgens, inhibin B, glucose, and insulin.


RESULTS
Using strict ultrasound criteria, 195 woman (60%) had enlarged ovaries, 135 (35%) had normal ovarian size but characteristic morphology, and 16 (5%) had normal size and morphology. Ovarian blood flow was increased (reduced PI and RI) in PCOS. All hormonal parameters were elevated in PCOS. Ovarian size correlated only with insulin and a measure of insulin resistance. Ovarian blood flow correlated positively with insulin, T, free T, and E2 but not with luteinizing hormone. Inhibin B showed a negative correlation with ovarian blood flow.


CONCLUSIONS
When a clinical diagnosis of PCOS was made, virtually all women were found to have characteristic ovarian morphology. Insulin correlated with increased ovarian size as well as with increased blood flow. Blood flow also correlated positively with sex steroids but negatively with inhibin B.
Carmina
Enrico
E
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Orio
Francesco
F
Palomba
Stefano
S
Longo
Rosa A
RA
Lombardi
Gaetano
G
Lobo
Rogerio A
RA
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000858:Anovulation / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones