title: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Insulin resistance is a common feature of both nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), therefore, we hypothesize that PCOS and NAFLD may coexist. The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of NAFLD in women with PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of patients with PCOS and no current pharmacological treatment was conducted. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound following exclusion of alcohol consumption, viral, or autoimmune liver disease. Anthropometric variables, serum levels of glucose, insulin, lipids and aminotransferases, and HOMA index were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one PCOS patients (mean age: 24.6+/-7.2yr, mean body mass index [BMI]: 30.3+/-7.0kg/m(2)) were included; 26 of 41 PCOS patients (63.4%) had insulin resistance and 17 (41.5%) had NAFLD. Nine of the NAFLD patients (64%) also had abnormal aminotransferases. Women with NAFLD and PCOS had a higher HOMA index and a higher waist-hip ratio than those with normal ultrasound. Patients with PCOS showed a higher frequency of NAFLD (41% vs. 19%) and insulin resistance (63% vs. 35.5%) than a control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NAFLD is frequent in patients with PCOS confirming a relevant clinical association between these two conditions. Women with PCOS should be screened for liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Cristián
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cerda
authors.forename: Rosa María
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pérez-Ayuso
authors.forename: Arnoldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riquelme
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soza
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villaseca
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sir-Petermann
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pizarro
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Solis
authors.forename: Juan Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Miquel
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arrese
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
chemical_list: D000637:Transaminases