title: Unfavorable hormonal, metabolic, and inflammatory alterations persist after menopause in women with PCOS.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are known to suffer from hyperandrogenism and impaired glucose tolerance, as well as chronic inflammation, exposing them to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, the degree to which these hormonal and metabolic alterations persist after menopause (MP) is not well documented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to explore whether adverse metabolic and hormonal alterations persist after MP in women with PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional university hospital-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one pre-MP (n = 10) and post-MP (n = 11) women diagnosed with PCOS were compared with 29 healthy controls (pre-MP, n = 11; post-MP, n = 18). Two-hour oral glucose tolerance tests were performed, and ovarian steroid secretion capacity was assessed (human chorionic gonadotropin tests). Areas under the curves (AUC) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both pre-MP and post-MP women with PCOS had increased insulin response in oral glucose tolerance tests (AUC(ins) pre-MP = 6733.7 vs. 3382.9; post-MP = 9732.1 vs. 3265.3) and were more insulin resistant than controls. Androgen secretion capacity was increased before and after MP in PCOS (AUC of androstenedione; pre-MP: 1218.4 vs. 853.2; post-MP: 1000.0 vs. 531.3). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein remained elevated after MP in PCOS (pre-MP: 1.3 vs. 0.7; post-MP: 1.4 vs. 0.9 mg/liter). Adjustment for body mass index did not alter the results except for glucose metabolism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that impaired glucose metabolism, enhanced ovarian androgen secretion, and chronic inflammation observed in pre-MP women with PCOS persist after menopausal transition emphasizing life-long health risks related to this syndrome.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland.
authors: Johanna
authors: J
authors: Puurunen
authors: Terhi
authors: T
authors: Piltonen
authors: Laure
authors: L
authors: Morin-Papunen
authors: Antti
authors: A
authors: Perheentupa
authors: Ilkka
authors: I
authors: Järvelä
authors: Aimo
authors: A
authors: Ruokonen
authors: Juha S
authors: JS
authors: Tapanainen
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001823:Body Composition; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; C422364:inhibin B; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone