Adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome showing different phenotypes have a different metabolic profile associated with increasing androgen levels.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the metabolic profiles of adolescents with different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN

Observational study.

SETTING

University outpatient clinic.

PATIENT(S): Adolescents with PCOS (n = 120) were divided into four groups: oligomenorrhea and hirsutism (O-H, n = 50), oligomenorrhea, hirsutism, and polycystic ovaries (PCO-O-H, n = 22), oligomenorrhea, hirsutism, and hyperandrogenemia (A-O-H, n = 28), oligomenorrhea, and hirsutism, hyperandrogenemia, and polycystic ovaries (PCO-A-O-H, n = 20). A control group of age-matched adolescents (n = 30) was included.

INTERVENTION(S): Subjects underwent physical and ultrasound evaluations; fasting blood samples were taken for the measurement of endocrine and metabolic parameters.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The endocrine and metabolic profiles were evaluated.

RESULT(S): Adolescents with PCOS showed reduced insulin sensitivity and dyslipidemia. Triglycerides, and total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were higher in the phenotypes with hyperandrogenemia. Insulin resistance and body mass index were not significantly different between PCOS phenotypes. Triglyceride positively and high-density lipoportein cholesterol levels negatively correlated with free testosterone and free androgen index.

CONCLUSION(S): The risk of metabolic alterations may vary in adolescent PCOS patients with different phenotypes. Hyperandrogenemia is a risk factor for dyslipidemia. This information may be of relevance in counseling adolescents with PCOS.