Brachial artery conductance during reactive hyperemia is increased in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To examine changes in brachial artery conductance (BAC) during reactive hyperemia in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared to controls.


METHODS
This is a pilot case-control study performed at a single academic medical center. Changes in BAC during reactive hyperemia were evaluated in 31 women with PCOS and 11 healthy control women. Fasting glucose, insulin, lipids and androgen levels were also determined. A mixed-effects model was used to compare the PCOS curve to the control curve for change in BAC from baseline during reactive hyperemia.


RESULTS
Body mass index (BMI) and testosterone levels were significantly increased in the PCOS group compared to controls (P<0.05). In addition, the PCOS group had higher total and LDL cholesterol levels (P=0.05 and 0.09, respectively). Change in BAC from baseline during reactive hyperemia was significantly increased in the PCOS group compared to controls even after adjusting for age, BMI and LDL cholesterol levels (P<0.0001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in age, blood pressure, or fasting glucose or insulin levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Brachial artery conductance during reactive hyperemia is significantly increased in women with PCOS compared to controls and may be a novel early indicator of increased cardiovascular risk in women with PCOS.
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. nrajakhan@psu.edu
Nazia
N
Raja-Khan
Showieb A
SA
Shuja
Allen R
AR
Kunselman
Cynthia S
CS
Hogeman
Laurence M
LM
Demers
Carol L
CL
Gnatuk
Richard S
RS
Legro
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007700:Kinetics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D013739:Testosterone; D002784:Cholesterol