title: Genetics of insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a very common endocrine disease in women all over the world. A variety of symptoms such as hirsutism and hyperandrogenism, irregular menstrual cycles and anovulatory infertility together with metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus in lean and obese individuals and the development of consecutive diseases are key problems in this heterogeneous syndrome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Disease-modifying and potentially disease-causing candidate genes are described. A number of genetic associations have been investigated, whereby genes related to normal-weight insulin resistance and chronic inflammation are of central interest for PCOS pathomechanisms. New insights in the pharmacogenetics of PCOS might help to individualize therapeutic options.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enormous progress has been made in the genetics of insulin resistance in PCOS. However, because of the individual heterogeneity of PCOS and the lack of evident functional studies, the syndrome is only partly understood to date. Large studies on selected phenotypes and therapy aspects are ongoing.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Obermayer-Pietsch
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trummer
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schwetz
authors.forename: Natascha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schweighofer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pieber
mesh_terms: D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000235:genetics; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*