Polycystic ovarian syndrome in women with epilepsy: A review

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) remains a controversial issue in women w ith epilepsy. The syndrome is characterized by clinical signs of endocrine dysfunction, such as irregular menstruation, hirsutism, and infertility, bu t its pathogenesis and presentation are heterogeneous. There are few data o n the relationship between epilepsy and PCOS. Studies by a Finnish group ha ve raised the issue of an association between valproate (VPA) and PCOS in y oung women with epilepsy. These studies, however, were retrospective, laid emphasis on polycystic ovary morphology rather than on clinical endocrine d ysfunction, and were undertaken in selected populations. Further studies, b oth in Italy and Germany, failed to replicate the findings of the Finnish g roup. Future research should ideally be prospective and include baseline da ta in untreated women. No compelling data lead to a specific contraindicati on of the use of VPA in young women, and the drug remains a first-line trea tment option.