title: The relationship between LH and thyroid volume in patients with PCOS.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thyroid volume (TV) has been found to be associated with age, anthropometry, smoking, iodine status and hyperinsulinemia. Hyperinsulinemia is frequent finding in patients with PCOS and has associations with TV. However, the TV has been evaluated only a few studies in patients with PCOS. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical and hormonal variables in patients with PCOS comparing with the controls and their relationships between TV.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a case-control study conducted in a training and research hospital. The study population consisted of 47 reproductive-age PCOS women and 30 control subjects. We evaluated anthropometric, biochemical and hormonal parameters as well as thyroid volume in PCOS patients and controls. Insulin resistance was calculated using the homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age, BMI, thyroid stimulant hormone (TSH) levels and TV were similar between groups (p<0.05). The HOMA-IR and free T4 levels were higher in patients with PCOS. However, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance were not found to be associated with TV. Thyroid volume was positively correlated with the LH and anti TPO levels. The participants were divided into 2 groups according to HOMA-IR levels. The mean TV measurement was higher in group with higher HOMA-IR levels, but the difference was not significant in young age PCOS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In early age PCOS patients it was observed that insulin resistance had no effect on TV. In this case, anti TPO and LH have dominant effect on TV. Chronic stimulation with LH and insulin may lead to increase in TV in later stages of the PCOS diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Diskapi Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. drevrimcakir@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Evrim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Topaloglu
authors.forename: Nujen Bozkurt
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Colak
authors.forename: Basak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karbek
authors.forename: Askin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gungunes
authors.forename: Muyesser Sayki
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Ilknur Ozturk
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Unsal
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tutal
authors.forename: Bekir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ucan
authors.forename: Tuncay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Delibasi