title: Serum aldosterone concentration and cardiovascular risk in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with early impairment of vascular structure and a low-grade chronic inflammation. Aldosterone is a well-recognized cardiovascular risk (CVR) factor and is related to inflammatory processes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to investigate serum aldosterone levels in PCOS and correlate them to some CVR factors and early atherosclerotic markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective baseline-controlled clinical study was conducted at the University "Federico II" of Naples School of Medicine (Naples, Italy).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty PCOS women age- and body mass index-matched with 50 healthy women were enrolled.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anthropometric, hormonal, and metabolic patterns, including plasma aldosterone, renin, and C-reactive protein, were measured in each subject. Intima-media thickness was also evaluated in each patient and control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aldosterone levels were significantly increased (P < 0.001) in PCOS compared with healthy women (10.5 +/- 3.2 vs. 5.7 +/- 2.5 ng/dl). In PCOS, a significant (P < 0.001) direct correlation between plasma aldosterone and homeostasis model assessment, C-reactive protein, intima-media thickness, and mean blood pressure was found. On the other hand, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and potassium were inversely (P < 0.001) related to serum aldosterone. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the area under the curve for insulin and homeostasis model assessment was linearly related to aldosterone in PCOS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCOS women show an insulin resistance related increase in serum aldosterone levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, University Federico II of Naples, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cascella
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palomba
authors.forename: Libuse
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tauchmanovà
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manguso
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Biase
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Labella
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giallauria
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vigorito
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colao
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015984:Causality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone