title: Metabolic and cardiovascular changes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the relationship between QTc interval and cardiovascular risk factors in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Study group included 119 PCOS women (age: 32.2+/-5.2 years) and the control group 64 age-matched healthy women; they all underwent QT interval measurement, and plasma levels of high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), endothelin-1 (ET1), insulin, and testosterone determinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In PCOS women hsCRP (2.35+/-2.14 mg/L vs. 1.01+/-1.28 mg/L; P=0.04), ET1 (23.6+/-10.3 ng/L vs. 7.7+/-15.9 ng/L; P=0.01), and insulin (16.5+/-7.8 mIU/L vs. 11.8+/-10.7 mIU/L; P=0.03) levels were significantly higher, and QTc interval significantly shorter than in controls (401+/-61 ms vs. 467+/-61 ms; P=0.007). In 67 (56%) PCOS patients with a short QTc interval (<400 ms), plasma testosterone levels were significantly higher than in PCOS women with normal QTc interval (2.3+/-2.1 nmol/L vs. 1.4+/-1.7 nmol/L; P=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with polycystic ovary syndrome increased testosterone levels may attenuate the effects of coronary risk factors.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. helena.meden@kclj.si
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Meden-Vrtovec
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Vrtovec
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Osredkar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D013739:Testosterone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein