Cardiovascular risk in normal weight, eumenorrheic, nonhirsute daughters of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To verify whether healthy daughters with polycystic ovaries (PCO) of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in comparison with healthy controls.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Seventeen eumenorrheic daughters with PCO of patients with PCOS (group 1) and 20 healthy volunteers (group 2) with regular ovulatory cycles.


METHODS
Fasting blood sampling, ultrasonographic and Doppler analyses, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.


METHODS
Medical examination; blood measurement of nitrites and nitrates, biochemical and hormonal parameters; utero-ovarian ultrasonographic analysis and color Doppler evaluation of uterine and stromal ovarian arteries; brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatation; 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed to analyze glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels.


RESULTS
At Doppler analysis a significantly higher uterine and a lower ovarian artery pulsatility index was found in group 1 compared with group 2. The brachial artery diameter, after the reactive hyperemia, showed a greater vasodilatation in controls in comparison with women with PCO. The 24-hour blood pressure monitoring demonstrated that patients with PCO have significant higher 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime diastolic and mean arterial pressure values than controls. The nitrites and nitrates plasma levels were lower in group 1 compared with group 2. The glucose and insulin plasma values were higher in patients with PCO than in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Eumenorrheic nonhirsute daughters of patients with PCOS who have PCO appearance on ultrasound have an increased cardiovascular risk.
Battaglia
Cesare
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 13, Bologna, Italy. cesare.battaglia@unibo.it
Mancini
Fulvia
F
Cianciosi
Arianna
A
Busacchi
Paolo
P
Persico
Nicola
N
Paradisi
Roberto
R
Facchinetti
Fabio
F
de Aloysio
Domenico
D
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D001835:Body Weight; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation / Q000502:physiology; D009035:Mothers; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014664:Vasodilation