title: Premature aging of cardiovascular/platelet function in polycystic ovarian syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to compare the impact of aging on nitric oxide (NO) modulation of platelet and vascular function in healthy women and women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A case-control study of women ages 18 to 60 years, comparing women with polycystic ovarian syndrome against age-matched healthy controls, was performed. A total of 242 women, of whom 109 had polycystic ovarian syndrome (based on Rotterdam criteria), participated in the study. Women who were pregnant or on clopidogrel were excluded from the study. Inhibition of platelet aggregation by nitric oxide (primary outcome measure), vascular endothelial function, plasma concentrations of N(G), N(G)-dimethyl-L-arginine (ADMA), endothelial progenitor cell count, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (markers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation) were assessed. With increasing age in control women, there was progressive attenuation of platelet responses to NO, impairment of endothelial function, and elevation of ADMA levels (P ≤.001). Irrespective of age, women with polycystic ovarian syndrome exhibited greater impairment of all these parameters (all P <.05, 2-way analysis of variance) and demonstrated these anomalies earlier in life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Normal aging in women is associated with attenuation of NO-based signaling in platelets and blood vessels. In women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, these changes are present from early adult life and may contribute to premature atherogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, The Basil Hetzel Institute, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Wai Ping A
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Doan T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.forename: Aaron L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sverdlov
authors.forename: Sharmalar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajendran
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.forename: Tamila
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heresztyn
authors.forename: Yuliy Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chirkov
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Horowitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019588:Aging, Premature / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000502:physiology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D001120:Arginine