Evin Ferda, Ayrancı İlkay
Pediatric Endocrinology, Çiğli Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, TUR.
Cureus. 2024 Aug 19;16(8):e67168. doi: 10.7759/cureus.67168. eCollection 2024 Aug.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common syndrome often observed during adolescence, characterized by ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism. It is determined that, when female fetuses are exposed to high levels of androgens, it increases their likelihood of developing PCOS in later ages. The 2D:4D digit ratio, which measures the length of the index finger compared to the ring finger, is a precise anatomical indicator of the degree of prenatal androgen exposure. Higher digit ratios in individuals have been associated with outcomes typically attributed to females. In the adolescent age group, the relationship between PCOS and androgen exposure during the antenatal period is not clear.
The study was aimed to evaluate digit ratios in adolescents with PCOS.
The study included 38 adolescent girls with PCOS, and 40 healthy adolescent girls were selected as the control group. The digit ratio (2D:4D) was evaluated by digital calipers, and the digit ratios of the patient and control groups were compared.
The mean age in the PCOS group was 15.99±1.18 years, while the control group had a mean age of 16.02±1.06 years. The right-hand 2D:4D digit ratio was significantly lower in the PCOS group (0.93±0.02) compared to the control group (1.00±0.01, p<0.001). Similarly, the left-hand 2D:4D digit ratio was also lower in the PCOS group (0.98±0.03) compared to the control group (1.00±0.01, p<0.001). There was a moderate negative correlation between the left-hand 2D:4D ratio and the modified Ferriman-Gallwey score (mFGS) (r=0.53, p=0.01). Nevertheless, there was not a significant association found between the 2D:4D ratio of the right hand and mFGS.
This study demonstrates that PCOS patients have significantly lower both-hand 2D:4D ratios than healthy controls, suggesting prenatal androgen exposure. Recognizing anatomic markers in adolescence may predict the development of PCOS. The findings align with previous research linking low digit ratios to androgen exposure and various reproductive outcomes.
多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）是青春期常见的综合征，其特征为排卵功能障碍和高雄激素血症。已确定，当女性胎儿暴露于高水平雄激素时，会增加其日后患PCOS的可能性。2D:4D指长比，即食指长度与无名指长度之比，是产前雄激素暴露程度的精确解剖学指标。个体中较高的指长比与通常归因于女性的结果相关。在青少年年龄组中，PCOS与产前雄激素暴露之间的关系尚不清楚。
本研究旨在评估PCOS青少年的指长比。
该研究纳入了38名患有PCOS的青少年女孩，并选取40名健康青少年女孩作为对照组。使用数字卡尺评估指长比（2D:4D），并比较患者组和对照组的指长比。
PCOS组的平均年龄为15.99±1.18岁，而对照组的平均年龄为16.02±1.06岁。与对照组（1.00±0.01，p<0.001）相比，PCOS组右手的2D:4D指长比显著更低（0.93±0.02）。同样，与对照组（1.00±0.01，p<0.001）相比，PCOS组左手的2D:4D指长比也更低（0.98±0.03）。左手2D:4D比值与改良的费里曼-加洛韦评分（mFGS）之间存在中度负相关（r=0.53，p=0.01）。然而，未发现右手的2D:4D比值与mFGS之间存在显著关联。
本研究表明，PCOS患者双手的2D:4D比值均显著低于健康对照组，提示产前雄激素暴露。识别青少年时期的解剖学标志物可能预测PCOS的发生。这些发现与之前将低指长比与雄激素暴露及各种生殖结局联系起来的研究一致。
