Pituitary-ovarian response to the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-agonist test in anovulatory patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: predictive role of ovarian stroma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of ovarian stroma on basal and poststimulus androgen secretion in patients affected by secondary amenorrhoea and polycystic ovaries (PCO) at ultrasound (US).


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Fifty-one patients with PCO selected from a group of 72 normal weight women aged 20-25 years affected by secondary amenorrhoea and 10 normal ovulatory controls.


METHODS
All subjects underwent US to evaluate volume, area, stromal area and stromal/total area ratio of both ovaries. Plasma levels of gonadotrophins, oestradiol (E2) and androgens were measured before and 24 h after GnRH-a injection. 60 min after stimulus LH and FSH were also assayed.


RESULTS
Thirty patients had increased ovarian stroma (IS) and 21 patients normal ovarian stroma (NS). Significantly higher LH levels characterized the IS group, both basally and after GnRH-a stimulation compared with NS and controls (P < 0.01). Baseline levels of androstenedione, testosterone and 17-OHprogesterone (17-OHP) were significantly higher in IS group. Moreover, 17-OHP hyper-response to GnRH-a was demonstrated in IS group in comparison to NS and control groups (P < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Stroma evaluation may be of use in discriminating between different pathogenic factors in secondary amenorrhoea. This criterion may be applied to support the correct diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Indeed, in line with the most recently proposed guidelines, patients affected by multifollicular ovaries could be classified as PCOS. The possibility of taking into account more than one US criterion or of carefully reanalysing the significance of increased stroma volume should be considered.
Fulghesu
A M
AM
Dipartimento Chirurgico Materno-Infantile e di Scienze delle Immagini, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. fulgh@tiscalinet.it
Angioni
S
S
Belosi
C
C
Apa
R
R
Selvaggi
L
L
Ciampelli
M
M
Iuculano
A
A
Melis
G B
GB
Lanzone
A
A
D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000728:Androgens; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone