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Lipoprotein profile in PCOS may lead to insight on CV risk
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Adolescent and young women with polycystic ovary syndrome may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease compared with other women their age who do not have PCOS, according to recent study findings published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
“The atherogenic changes described in older women with PCOS actually start very early in the reproductive life of young women,” Evgenia Gourgari, MD, assistant professor in the division of pediatric endocrinology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington D.C., told Endocrine Today. “Lifestyle changes should be encouraged at every visit, even in young and adolescent girls with PCOS to prevent [cardiovascular disease].”
Evgenia Gourgari
Gourgari and colleagues evaluated 35 women with PCOS (mean age, 20.4 years) and 20 healthy controls (mean age, 23.6 years) to determine the relationship of LDL particle number and size with insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism between the two groups.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to measure LDL particle size and number.
Compared with controls, participants with PCOS had higher LDL particle numbers (P = .032). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = .006) and waist-to-hip ratio (P = .0003) were correlated with LDL particle number.
Higher values for small-particle LDL were found among the PCOS group compared with controls (P = .015). The number of small LDL particles was also associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = .0019) and waist-to-hip measurements (P < .0001).
A correlation was found between the number of small LDL particles and Matsua index (P = .0001), homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance (P = .002) and adiponectin (P = .0004).
“At present, there are no cross-sectional or longitudinal studies supporting that these women have more CV events, such as strokes or heart attacks,” Gourgari said. “Further studies are needed to validate the utility of NMR spectroscopy as a universal screening method of CVD risk in women with PCOS.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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