Evaluation of early atherosclerotic findings in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy in women of childbearing
age, and it seems better to consider it as an ovarian manifestation of metabolic syndrome. The aim of the current
study was to evaluate early atherosclerotic findings in patients with PCOS.
Methods: We enrolled 46 women with PCOS and 45 normal control subjects who were referred to our hospital’s
endocrinology outpatient clinic. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) were
performed in both cases and matched controls.
Results: Patients with PCOS showed an increased mean CIMT (0.63 ± 0.16 mm) when compared with the control
subjects (0.33 ± 0.06 mm). This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001). The mean FMD in young patients
with PCOS was 10.07 ± 1.2%, while it was 6.5 ± 2.06% in normal subjects. This difference was also statistically
significant (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PCOS is related with early atherosclerotic findings