title: Prevalence and clinical features of polycystic ovarian syndrome in adolescents with previous childhood growth hormone deficiency.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Growth hormone (GH) plays a role in the regulation of ovarian function but there are limited data in women with GH deficiency (GHD). Our aim was to evaluate the features of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in women with previous GHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of 22 adolescents previously GH-treated (group A) were compared with those of 22 women with classical PCOS (group B) and 20 controls (group C).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group A showed higher testosterone (p=0.048) and prevalence of menstrual irregularities (p<0.001) than group C. Compared to the group B, group A showed lower diastolic blood pressure (p=0.004), degree of hirsutism (p=0.005), testosterone (p=0.003) and prevalence of polycsytic ovaries (POC) morphology (p=0.024), with higher HDL-cholesterol (p=0.035) and 17-β-estradiol (p=0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents with previous GHD show a higher prevalence of PCOS than controls, but with milder metabolic and hormonal features than adolescents with classical PCOS. A careful long-term follow-up is advisable in these patients.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciresi
authors.forename: Marco C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giordano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol