title: Hyperhomocysteinaemia is associated with biochemical hyperandrogenaemia in women with reproductive age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hyperhomocysteinaemia is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This study investigated the relationship between hyperhomocysteinaemia and factors related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study. Three hundred and thirty-nine women were included; of these, 84 had hyperhomocysteinaemia (homocysteine>12.4 μmol/l) and 255 had normal homocysteine levels. Homocysteine, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, insulin resistance, metabolic disturbance and PCOS-related disturbance were evaluated. The clinical and biochemical characteristics of women with hyperhomocysteinaemia and normal homocysteine levels, including insulin resistance, metabolic disturbance and PCOS-related disturbance, were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Correlation was found between serum homocysteine level and serum total testosterone level and diastolic blood pressure. No correlation was found between serum homocysteine level and age, body mass index, insulin resistance and lipid profile. Women with hyperhomocysteinaemia had a significantly higher risk for biochemical hyperandrogenaemia and higher serum total testosterone levels than women with normal homocysteine levels. The prevalence rates of PCOS, oligo-amenorrhoea, polycystic ovary morphology and metabolic disturbance did not differ between the two groups. The parameters of insulin resistance and lipid profiles were similar between the two groups, and signs of clinical hyperandrogenism (hirsutism and the modified Ferriman-Gallwey score) did not differ between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis found a significant association between hyperandrogenaemia and hyperhomocysteinaemia (odds ratio 2.24, 95% confidence interval 1.26-4.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For women with PCOS, an elevated serum total testosterone level is the main factor associated with hyperhomocysteinaemia. The association between biochemical hyperandrogenism and hyperhomocysteinaemia may contribute to cardiovascular risk for women with PCOS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shih-Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ming-I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Yuan-chin Ivan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chih-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Chun-Sen
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chii-Ruey
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Tzeng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000150:complications*; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Hirsutism; Hyperandrogenism; Hyperhomocysteinaemia; Polycystic ovary syndrome