Endothelial function in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a long-term follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate pulse wave reflection and endothelial-dependent vasodilation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and age-matched healthy controls.


METHODS
Long-term follow-up study.


METHODS
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.


METHODS
Sixty-seven patients with PCOS and with a mean age of 43.3 years at the follow-up investigation and 66 age-matched controls.


METHODS
Aplanation tonometry before and after β-2 receptor agonist (terbutaline) challenge.


METHODS
Baseline augmentation index (AI) aorta, baseline AI-radial, and change in AI-radial after terbutaline administration as a measure of endothelial-dependent vasodilation.


RESULTS
There was no difference in baseline AI-aorta between patients with PCOS and control subjects. Change in AI-radial after terbutaline administration was less pronounced in patients with PCOS compared with control subjects. This difference remained when adjusted for use of combined oral contraceptives (OC)/hormone replacement therapy (HT) and postmenopausal status but not after adjustment for body mass index (BMI).


CONCLUSIONS
Middle-aged patients with PCOS display signs of endothelial dysfunction in comparison to age-matched controls, but this is largely due to the increased prevalence of independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease found in this group.
Hudecova
Miriam
M
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. miriam.hudecova@kbh.uu.se
Holte
Jan
J
Olovsson
Matts
M
Lind
Lars
L
Poromaa
Inger Sundström
IS
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011674:Pulse; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index