[Insulin resistance in obese and non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Possible role in the pathogenesis of the disease].

The pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOs) is not well known till now. Previous reports indicated an hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in obese and non obese PCOs. However the role of hyperinsulinemia in PCOs pathogenesis is not completely understood. In this study we evaluated the glycemic and insulinemic response to OGTT in 21 women suffering from PCOs (13 obese and 8 normal weight) and in 16 fertile women as a control group (8 obese and 8 normal weight). All tested women showed normal glycemia before and after OGTT. Basal insulinemia in PCOs was similar to that observed in control group. Mean insulinemic levels following OGTT in obese control group and in PCOs were significantly higher than those observed in normal women (p < 0.05). Insulin area under curve (AUC) following OGTT in non obese PCOs was significantly higher than that observed in non obese control women (72442.13 +/- 18668.9 mUI/ml/h versus 53710.8 +/- 83365 mUI/ml/h; p = 0.02), but lower than that observed in obese PCOs (192793 +/- 49421; p < 0.001). In obese PCOs insulin AUC was significantly higher than that observed in obese control group (138836.8 +/- 28800.9; p = 0.012). Insulin AUC was positively related to BMI in control group (p < 0.001) but not in PCOs. In PCOs group insulin AUC was positively related to hirsutism degree (p = 0.032) and circulatory levels of T (p = 0.044), LH (p < 0.001) and E1 (p = 0.026).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)