title: Circulating platelet-derived microparticles are elevated in women with polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosed with the 1990 criteria and correlate with serum testosterone levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) appear to have higher cardiovascular risk than healthy population. Patients diagnosed with PCOS according to the 1990 criteria have a more adverse metabolic profile than those diagnosed with the 2003 criteria. Platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs) appear to contribute to atherosclerosis but have not been assessed in PCOS. The aim of this study was to determine plasma PMPs in PCOS patients. Design A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed plasma PMPs in 76 normal weight women with PCOS (39 belonging to the phenotypes 1 and 2 (group I) and 37 belonging to the phenotypes 3 and 4 (group II)) and 21 healthy normal weight women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Markers of obesity and insulin resistance did not differ between women with PCOS and controls. Serum testosterone levels and the free androgen index (FAI) were higher in group I than in group II and controls (P<0.001 for all comparisons) but did not differ between the latter two groups. Plasma PMPs were higher in group I than in controls (P=0.018) but did not differ between group II and controls or between groups I and II. In the total study population (n=97), plasma PMPs correlated with serum testosterone levels (r=0.207, P=0.042) and the FAI (r=0.207, P=0.042).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma PMPs are elevated in women with phenotypes 1 and 2 of PCOS compared with healthy controls, but not in women with phenotypes 3 and 4. Hyperandrogenemia, which is more pronounced in phenotypes 1 and 2, appears to be implicated in the increase in plasma PMPs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Human Reproduction, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, 546 42 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Ekaterini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koiou
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tziomalos
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Katsikis
authors.forename: Emmanuil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalaitzakis
authors.forename: Eleni A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kandaraki
authors.forename: Elena A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Tsourdi
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delkos
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papadakis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panidis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology*; D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone