CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC-OVARY-SYNDROME - INITIAL RESULTS FROM A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Objective: Our our purpose was to determine whether women with polycys tic ovary syndrome have greater subclinical atherosclerosis as measure d by carotid artery ultrasonography. Study Design: Sixteen premenopaus al women less than 40 years old with a history of clinical polycystic ovary syndrome and a current total testosterone concentration less tha n or equal to 2.0nmol/L and 16 age-matched (plus or minus 5 years) cyc ling women underwent carotid scanning. Intima-media thickness and plaq ue were compared between cases and controls, as were risk factors for atherosclerosis including body mass index and fasting insulin and lipi d levels. Statistical analysis included t tests, Fisher's exact test, and multiple linear regression. Results: Mean plus or minus SE intima- media thickness was found to be significantly greater for cases with p olycystic ovary syndrome (0.680 plus or minus 0.019 mm) than for contr ols (0.630 plus or minus 0.012 mm) (t=2.31, p=0.035). Five cases (31.3 %) and two controls (12.5%) had ultrasonographic evidence of plaque (n ot significant). Univariate regressions of intima-media thickness yiel ded significant coefficients for insulin, total cholesterol, low-densi ty lipoprotein cholesterol and body mass index. When either total chol esterol or low-density lipoprotein were included in the model simultan eously with polycystic ovary syndrome, each retained significance. Thi s was not true for insulin and body mass index, however, suggesting th at these factors covaried with polycystic ovary syndrome in a dimensio n affecting intima-media thickness. Conclusions: In spite of a major l imitation of small sample size, these data suggest that women with pol ycystic ovary syndrome have an increased risk of subclinical atheroscl erosis in their 40s.