Descriptive, Transversal Study of Evaluation of Cardiovascular Risks Factors and Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in the Different Phenotypes of Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a very frequent endocrine disease of women in reproductive age, with an estimated prevalence of 5 to 10 % according to the studied population.

Its cause remains not fully understood. PCOS is characterized by hyperandrogenism, chronic anovulation and / or polycystic ovaries. Patients, in a high percentage of cases show obesity, hirsutism, acne, menstrual irregularities and infertility. Clinically and biologically PCOS is a heterogeneous disorder with a not yet clear pathogenesis. Therefore, discussions on its definition and diagnosis still subsist. Seventy years ago Stein and Leventhal published their findings in 7 women with amenorrhea, hirsutism, acne, obesity and polycystic appearance of their ovaries. Since then, diagnostic criteria for PCOS suffered multiple modifications.

In 1990 a group of experts under the auspices of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) considered affected by PCOS every woman with hyperandrogenism and chronic anovulation; after having excluded other specific diseases that mimic that clinic like Cushing's syndrome, androgen secreting tumors and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NIH criteria). The presence of polycystic ovaries under ultrasound exploration was considered controversial criteria and was not included for diagnosis. In May 2003 a new committee of experts joined in Rotterdam under the auspice of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), included polycystic ovaries by ultrasound to the physiologic abnormalities for diagnosis. Thus, diagnosis should include unless two of the following: oligo or anovulation; hyperandrogenism (clinic or biochemical) and polycystic ovaries under ultrasound examination.

Rotterdam consensus widened the definition already proposed by NIH in 1990 giving rise to four subgroups or phenotypes:

1- Women with polycystic ovaries, hyperandrogenism and oligoamenorrhea. 2. Women with normal ovaries, hyperandrogenism and oligoamenorrhea. 3- Women with polycystic ovaries, oligoamenorrhea without hyperandrogenism. 4- Women with polycystic ovaries, hyperandrogenism with normal menses. This new criteria increase de prevalence, diversity and also controversy about PCOS. Some authors like Franks accept that the new consensus gave significant advances in the etiological knowledge of the syndrome. Others, like Azziz, proposed that is premature to include ovulating women and the ones with no clear evidence of androgens excess. In the last subgroups is no clear if they have an increased risk of cardiovascular and / or metabolic diseases.