Pregnancy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: the effect of different phenotypes and features on obstetric and neonatal outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that the risk of adverse obstetric or neonatal outcomes varies according to different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and to evaluate the clinical impact of the main features of PCOS.


METHODS
Prospective controlled clinical study.


METHODS
Academic Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and of Endocrinology, Italy.


METHODS
Ninety-seven pregnant women with PCOS and 73 healthy pregnant subjects were recruited as cases and controls, respectively.


METHODS
Clinical, biochemical, and ultrasonographic evaluations.


METHODS
Obstetric and neonatal outcomes.


RESULTS
The relative risk (RR) for adverse obstetric or neonatal outcomes was increased (1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-2.96) in patients with PCOS and varied according to the PCOS phenotype (1.93, 95% CI 1.12-2.96; 2.23, 95% CI 1.21-3.15; 0.54, 95% CI 0.09-1.63, and 0.48, 95% CI 0.31-0.78 for full-blown, nonpolycystic ovaries [PCO], nonhyperandrogenic, and ovulatory phenotypes, respectively). The RRs were 1.57 (95% CI 0.85-2.52) and 0.48 (95% CI 0.31-0.78) for oligoanovulatory and ovulatory patients with PCOS, respectively. The risk for adverse obstetric or neonatal outcomes was affected significantly by ovarian dysfunction and biochemical hyperandrogenism, whereas no significant effect was detected for clinical hyperandrogenism and PCO.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased risk for adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes that was observed in patients with PCOS varies widely according to the different phenotypes and features of PCOS.
Palomba
Stefano
S
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. stefanopalomba@tin.it
Falbo
Angela
A
Russo
Tiziana
T
Tolino
Achille
A
Orio
Francesco
F
Zullo
Fulvio
F
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000858:Anovulation / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000150:complications*; D010641:Phenotype; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate / Q000639:trends*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors