Anthropometric and Biochemical Characteristics of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in South Indian Women Using AES-2006 Criteria.
BACKGROUND
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine conditions affecting women of reproductive age with a prevalence of approximately 5-10% worldwide. PCOS can be viewed as a heterogeneous androgen excess disorder with varying degrees of reproductive and metabolic abnormalities, whose diagnosis is based on anthropometric, biochemical and radiological abnormalities. To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the anthropometric, biochemical and ultrasonographic characteristics of PCOS in Asian Indians of South India, using the Androgen Excess Society (AES-2006) diagnostic criteria.


OBJECTIVE
To assess anthropometric, biochemical and ultrasonographic features of PCOS subgroups and controls among South Indian women using the AES-2006 criteria.


METHODS
Two hundred and four women clinically diagnosed with PCOS, and 204 healthy women controls aged 17 to 35 years were evaluated. PCOS was diagnosed by clinical hyperandrogenism (HA), irregular menstruation (IM), and polycystic ovary (PCO). PCOS was further categorized into phenotypic subgroups including the IM+HA+PCO (n = 181, 89%), HA+PCO (n = 23, 11%), IM+HA (n = 0), and also into obese PCOS (n = 142, 70%) and lean PCOS (n = 62, 30%) using body mass index (BMI). Anthropometric measurements and biochemical characteristics were compared among the PCOS subgroups.


RESULTS
The PCOS subgroups with regular menstrual cycles (HA+PCO), had more luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and high insulin resistance (IR) expressed as the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) score, compared with the IM+HA+PCO subgroups and controls. Similarly, the obese PCOS had high BMI, waist to hip ratio (WHR), fasting glucose, LH, LH/FSH, fasting insulin, HOMA score (IR), and dyslipidemia, compared with lean PCOS and controls. Unilateral polycystic ovary was seen in 32 (15.7%) patients, and bilateral involvement in 172 (84.3%) patients. All the controls showed normal ovaries.


CONCLUSIONS
Anthropometric, biochemical, and ultrasonographic findings showed significant differences among PCOS subgroups. The PCOS subgroups with regular menstrual cycles (HA+PCO), had high insulin resistance (IR) and gonadotropic hormonal abnormalities, compared with the IM+HA+PCO subgroups and controls.
Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Vasavi Medical and Research Centre, Khairatabad, Hyderabad, India.
Sujatha
S
Thathapudi
Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Geneticist and Research Coordinator, Vasavi Medical and Research Centre, Khairatabad, India.
Vijayalakshmi
V
Kodati
Department of Pathology, Kamineni Academy of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, LBnagar, Hyderabad, India.
Jayashankar
J
Erukkambattu
Department of Gynaecology, Anu's Fertility Centre, Somajiguda, Hyderabad, India.
Anuradha
A
Katragadda
Department of Biotechnology, Research Coordinator, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, India.
Uma
U
Addepally
Senior Scientist and Geneticist, Kamineni Academy of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Vasavi Medical and Research Centre, Hyderabad, India.
Qurratulain
Q
Hasan
Body Mass Index; HOMA Score; Insulin Resistance; Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome