title: Clinical and biochemical characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome in Korean women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the differences in anthropometrical, hormonal and insulin resistance parameters according to the subtype of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Korean women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 166 women with PCOS and retrospectively recruited 277 controls. PCOS was diagnosed by irregular menstruation (IM), polycystic ovary (PCO) and hyperandrogenism (HA). Subjects were divided into four subgroups: the IM/HA/PCO group (n = 87, 52.4%), the IM/PCO group (n = 52, 31.3%), the IM/HA group (n = 23, 13.9%) and the HA/PCO group (n = 4, 2.4%). Clinical and biochemical variables were compared among the PCOS subgroups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IM/HA/PCO and IM/HA groups showed higher body mass index (P < 0.001) and waist-to-hip ratio (P < 0.001) than the IM/PCO group. The IM/HA group had higher triglyceride levels than the other groups (P < 0.001). Higher fasting insulin (P < 0.001) and postprandial 2 h insulin (P < 0.01) were noted in the IM/HA/PCO group and the IM/HA group, compared with the IM/PCO group. Women with PCOS showed lower sex hormone-binding globulin (P < 0.001) and higher systolic blood pressure (BP) (P = 0.004), diastolic BP (P = 0.001), fasting insulin (P < 0.001), postprandial 2 h insulin (P < 0.001), homeostatic model for insulin resistance (P < 0.001) and clinical and biochemical parameters of metabolic syndrome (P < 0.05) compared with subjects without PCOS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with PCOS without HA are common in Korea and are less likely to have metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance and elevated BP. PCOS without HA may be a mild phenotype of PCOS. Therefore, women with PCOS in Korea could have a reduced likelihood of having metabolic syndrome compared with women of other ethnicities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Yungun-dong, Chongno-ku, Seoul 110-744, South Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Jin Ju
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kyu Ri
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Jee
authors.forename: Seung Yup
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.forename: Chang Suk
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Seok Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Gu
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Shin Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000209:etiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000209:etiology; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone