Temporal coupling of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone secretion in polycystic ovary syndrome

The aim of this study was to assess the luteinizing hormone (LH) and follic le stimulating hormone (FSH) pulsatile secretion and their temporal relatio n (concordance) in subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Fifteen s ubjects were included in the study (age 17-30 years, body mass index (BMI) 19.38-33.46 kg/m(2)). For the LH mid FSH determinations, blood sampling sta rted at 23.00 and lasted for 6 h with an intersample interval of 10 min. Pu lse analysis was carried out using the PulsDetekt program. LH/FSH pulse con cordance was calculated using the specific concordance index. Gonadotropin co-pulsatility was found in six subjects who were significantly younger tha n the others (median 18.5 vs. 22.5 years, p = 0.036). BMI, hirsutism grade, insulin sensitivity, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, prolactin, cor tisol and results obtained from the pulsatility analysis did not significan tly differ between the groups. A serum cortisol concentration was correlate d with the increased LH/FSH lag time (p = 0.851, p = 0.036) all subjects we re included. In conclusion, two distinct LH/FSH secretory patterns were fou nd in PCOS patients, manifested by the pressure or absence of the concordan ce of gonadotropin secretion. In the group where LH/FSH co-pulsatility was present, correlation was found between the scrum cortisol and the LH/FSH la g. We also confirmed the finding of previous studies that LH and FSH secret ion are regulated by two different mechanisms.