Ultrasonographic extended-view technique for evaluation of abdominal fat distribution in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To estimate whether, by using a new ultrasonographic technique (extended view; XTD view), young lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a more android fat distribution in comparison with normally menstruating women with ultrasonographic evidence of polycystic ovaries (PCO) and healthy control subjects, matched for both age and body mass index.

DESIGN:

Prospective observational study.

SETTING:

University Hospital.

SAMPLE:

Forty-nine lean women with PCOS, 42 eumenorrheic women with bilateral PCO and 40 healthy volunteers with regular ovulatory cycles.

METHODS:

Fasting blood sampling, ultrasonographic and Doppler analyses and blood pressure monitoring.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Medical examination, biochemical and hormonal parameters, ultrasonographic abdominal fat measurements, ultrasonographic evaluation of carotid intima-media thickness and Doppler analysis of ophthalmic artery. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed to analyze glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels.

RESULTS:

The XTD ultrasonographic preperitoneal area was significantly larger in women with PCOS than in control subjects (p=0.011). The preperitoneal/subcutaneous ratio was significantly higher in women with PCOS (1.1±0.26) compared with women with PCO (0.84±0.13; p=0.05) and control women (0.67±0.13; p<0.001). The mean pulsatility index of ophthalmic arteries was higher in the PCOS women (1.93±0.57) than in control subjects (1.84±0.38; p=0.041). Total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol were significantly higher in women with PCOS than in those with PCO and in control subjects.

CONCLUSIONS:

Women with PCOS have an android fat pattern correlated with an age-dependent increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

• Authors: Cesare Battaglia, Bruno Battaglia, Fulvia Mancini, Roberto Paradisi, Raffaella Fabbri, Stefano Venturoli
• Journal: Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica (Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand) Vol. 90 Issue 6 Pg. 600-8 (Jun 2011) ISSN: 1600-0412 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21401530 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2011 The Authors Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica© 2011 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers

Topics

• Adult
• Atherosclerosis (etiology)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Body Fat Distribution
• Body Mass Index
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Intra-Abdominal Fat (diagnostic imaging)
• Organ Size
• Ovary (pathology, physiopathology)
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (blood, diagnostic imaging)
• Subcutaneous Fat (diagnostic imaging)
• Thinness
• Ultrasonography, Doppler (methods)
• Waist-Hip Ratio