Obesity-related lipid profile and altered insulin incretion in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was evaluate influence of body mass index (BMI), hyperinsulinemia and/or insulin resistance (IR), and androgens on the lipid profile of adolescent polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODS

A total of 71 PCOS and 94 healthy adolescent girls from a Southern Italian region were included in the study. At day 5-8 of menstrual cycle, patients underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test to evaluate insulin levels; lipid and homocysteine levels were also assessed, baseline hormonal assays and ultrasound examination performed, and anthropometric characteristics measured.

RESULT

No differences were observed in the incidence of overweight or obesity and total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level; triglycerides and homocysteine levels did not differ between PCOS and control groups. All fasting metabolic indexes were similar, whereas insulin secretion after glucose load (I-AUC) was significantly higher in PCOS subjects. Total cholesterol levels were significantly related to waist-hip ratio (WHR). Low-density lipoprotein level was positively correlated with BMI, waist, WHR, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) but not I-AUC. Findings obtained for HDL correlated negatively to the same parameters, being also negatively correlated to both fasting insulin and HOMA, but not I-AUC. Moreover, HDL was positively correlated to circulating androstenedione (A) and negatively to circulating testosterone (T) levels. Triglycerides seemed to correlate positively with body BMI, waist, and WHR, and negatively with A levels. Homocysteine levels correlated positively with plasma triglyceride content.

CONCLUSION

In the adolescent population studied, no differences were revealed in lipid profile between PCOS and controls. The PCOS is not a discriminant factor. The anthropometric characteristics resulted in the primary factor influencing the lipid derangement, confirming the importance of treating obesity at an early age to reduce morbidity rates. Hyperinsulinemia and IR, peculiarities of PCOS capable of influencing long-term evolution into cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus, are not associated with worse lipid profile. Young patients should be encouraged and motivated to change their lifestyle, with the aim of losing weight and thus reducing risk of onset of overt dyslipidemia.

Risk assessment does not explain high prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in a large group of Sardinian women

BACKGROUND

A very high prevalence (22.3%) of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was recently reported following our study on a large group of Sardinian women. In order to explain such a high prevalence we sought to characterise our obstetric population through the analysis of risk factors and their association with the development of GDM.

METHODS

The prevalence of risk factors and their association with the development of GDM were evaluated in 1103 pregnancies (247 GDM and 856 control women). The association of risk factors with GDM was calculated according to logistic regression. Sensitivity and specificity of risk assessment strategy were also calculated.

RESULTS

None of the risk factors evaluated showed an elevated frequency in our population. The high risk patients were 231 (20.9%). Factors with a stronger association with GDM development were obesity (OR 3.7, 95% CI 2.08-6.8), prior GDM (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.69-5.69), and family history of Type 2 diabetes (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.81-3.86). Only patients over 35 years of age were more represented in the GDM group (38.2% vs 22.6% in the non-GDM cases, P < 0.001). Type 2 diabetes in second-degree relatives was equally represented in GDM and non-GDM subjects, while prior poor obstetrical outcomes mostly characterized non-GDM women (17.5% vs 10.6%, P < 0.001). The "average risk" assessment better characterized non-GDM patients (76.8% vs 57.8%, P < 0.001). The logistic regression analysis confirmed that Type 2 diabetes in second-degree relatives, prior poor obstetrical outcomes and the "average risk" definition did not predict the development of GDM.

CONCLUSION

Such a high prevalence of GDM in our population does not seem to be related to the abnormal presence of some known risk factors, and appears in contrast with the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in Sardinia. Further studies are needed to explain the cause such a high prevalence of GDM in Sardinia. The "average risk" definition is not adequate to predict GDM in our population.

Autoimmunity in gestational diabetes mellitus in Sardinia: a preliminary case-control report

BACKGROUND

We previously reported a high prevalence (22.3%) of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a large group of Sardinian women, in contrast with the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes. Sardinia has an unusual distribution of haplotypes and genotypes, with the highest population frequency of HLA DR3 in the world, and after Finland, the highest prevalence of Type 1 diabetes and Autoimmune-related Diseases. In this study we preliminarily tested the prevalence of serological markers of Type 1 diabetes in a group of Sardinian GDM patients.

METHODS

We determined glutamic decarboxylase antibodies (anti-GAD65), protein tyrosine phosphatase ICA 512 (IA2) antibodies (anti-IA2), and IAA in 62 GDM patients, and in 56 controls with matching age, gestational age and parity.

RESULTS

We found a high prevalence and very unusual distribution of antibodies in GDM patients (38.8%), the anti-IA2 being the most frequent antibody. Out of all our GDM patients, 38.8% (24 of 62) were positive for at least one antibody. Anti-IA2 was present in 29.0 % (18 out of 62) vs. 7.1% (4 out of 56) in the controls (P < 0.001). IAA was present in 14.5% (9 out of 62) of our GDM patients, and absent in the control subjects (P < 0.001). Anti-GAD65 was also present in GDM patients, with a prevalence of 3.2% (2 out of 62) while it was absent in the control group (P = NS). Pre-gestational weight was significantly lower (57.78 +/- 9.8 vs 65.9 +/- 17.3 P = 0.04) in auto-antibodies- positive GDM patients.

CONCLUSION

These results are in contrast with the very low prevalence of all antibodies reported in Italy. If confirmed, they could indicate that a large proportion of GDM patients in Sardinia have an autoimmune origin, in accordance with the high prevalence of Type 1 diabetes.

Hirsutism and hyperandrogenism associated with hyperreactio luteinalis in a singleton pregnancy: a case report

The incidence of hyperandrogenism during pregnancy is low, although the incidence of some of the ovarian diseases that can cause it is higher. Hyperreactio luteinalis is a rare benign condition that may mimic ovarian and trophoblastic malignancies. A 23-year-old woman at 20 weeks' gestational age presenting with severe hirsutism and ovarian masses was treated conservatively and subsequently gave birth to a healthy female neonate. Final diagnosis was hyperreactio luteinalis. Conservative management with close monitoring of patients with hyperreactio luteinalis represents the best approach in such rare cases. Counseling should be provided to reassure the patient as to the transient effects of hyperandrogenism on the mother and the fetus.

Failure of the homeostatic model assessment calculation score for detecting metabolic deterioration in young patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To verify whether the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) test is a suitable method for the identification of metabolic deterioration in normal-weight patients affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN

Prospective clinical study.

SETTING

Academic clinic and research environment in Cagliari, Italy.

PATIENT(S)

Forty-nine PCOS normal-weight adolescent subjects, and 50 eumenorrheic, normal-weight, nonhirsute controls matched for age and body mass index (BMI).

INTERVENTION(S)

History and physical examination, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and blood sampling, ultrasound.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

The HOMA score and integrated secretory area under the curve of insulin values (I-AUC) during the OGTT were calculated.

RESULT(S)

Normal insulin sensitivity was defined as upper control 95th percentile by HOMA values <65.6, I-AUC at 180 minutes <16,921, and I-AUC at 120 minutes <11,817. When applying the calculated I-AUC cutoff, 27 PCOS patients were classified as normoinsulinemic and 22 as hyperinsulinemic, whereas using the calculated HOMA cutoff, only 9 PCOS patients could be classified as insulin resistant (IR). Thirteen of the 40 non-IR PCOS patients presented with hyperinsulinemia; fasting glucose and insulin levels and HOMA scores were not sufficient to identify these subjects. Thus, the HOMA test displayed a low sensitivity (41%) and specificity (100%) in the diagnosis of the metabolic disorder disclosed by I-AUC. Moreover, analysis of I-AUC after 120 and 180 minutes revealed how the shorter evaluation period did not suffice for identification of all hyperinsulinemic subjects, implying an unrecognized condition in 11 of 22 subjects.

CONCLUSION(S)

In young, normal-weight patients with PCOS, the prevalence of hyperinsulinemia is not detectable by HOMA studies. The prevalence of IR was 18% according to HOMA evaluation, whereas hyperinsulinemia was found in 44% of subjects examined by I-AUC. Normal-weight, young PCOS patients should undergo a 3-hour OGTT to detect early metabolic abnormalities.