title: Clinical characteristics, metabolic features, and phenotype of Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a large-scale case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Rotterdam criteria extend the phenotypic spectrum of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study was to investigate the clinical and biochemical features of a large-scale clinic based on the samples of Chinese women and to evaluate the value of Rotterdam criteria on Chinese PCOS women.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand four hundred and four Chinese women were involved in our study, among whom, 719 cases were diagnosed as PCOS based on 2003 Rotterdam criteria, and 685 women without history of hyperandrogenism and with regular menstrual cycles were recruited as control. Clinical features, ultrasonographic (ovarian follicle number and volume), hormonal and metabolic parameters were commenced as outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 719 PCOS women, 6.1 % had hirsutism, 13.3 % had acne, 21.1 % had hyperandrogenism, 94.2 % had polycystic ovaries on ultrasonographic examination, and 88.6 % had menstrual abnormality. About one-third of the total PCOS patients were insulin resistant. The most frequent PCOS phenotype is the non-hyperandrogenic phenotype (O + P). Total testosterone, LH/FSH ratio, body mass index (BMI), and Ferriman and Gallwey scores (F-G) were all significantly higher in PCOS groups compared with non-PCOS group. Women with PCOS and obesity had higher serum testosterone, fasting insulin, longer menstrual cycle and larger ovarian follicle number, and LH/FSH ratio, estradiol or ovarian volume were similar between obese and normal BMI women. The LH level was statistically lower in the obese PCOS group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rotterdam criteria are generally applicable to Chinese population. Chinese women with PCOS showed lower rates of hyperandrogenemia, hirsutism, obesity, and insulin resistance. Obesity aggravates menstrual irregularity and increases the follicle number and serum total testosterone level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Tianjin Central Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital, 165 San Ma Road, Nan Kai District, Tianjin 300100, China. zhanghongyuan830@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hong Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cheng Xiu
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Fu Fan
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Peng Peng
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Wan Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiong
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000858:Anovulation / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000208:ethnology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone