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. 2005 Aug;90(8):4797-802.
doi: 10.1210/jc.2004-2217. Epub 2005 May 17.

Dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome in the sisters of women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Susan Sam  1 , Richard S Legro, Rhonda Bentley-Lewis, Andrea Dunaif
Affiliations

Dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome in the sisters of women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Susan Sam et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Aug.

Abstract

Context: Dyslipidemia is a feature of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but its pathogenesis remains controversial.

Objective: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that dyslipidemia is a heritable trait in sisters of women with PCOS.

Design: A case-control design was used.

Setting: The study took place at General Clinical Research Centers in four academic medical centers in the United States.

Patients: The subjects included 385 sisters of women with PCOS with the following reproductive phenotypes: sisters with PCOS (n = 51), sisters with hyperandrogenemia and regular menses (HA) (n = 38), unaffected sisters (n = 143), and unknown phenotypes (n = 153). One hundred twenty-five control women of comparable age, body mass index, and ethnicity to women with PCOS were included.

Interventions: Fasting blood was obtained for measurements of lipid profile, reproductive hormones, glucose, and insulin levels.

Main outcome measures: The main outcome measures included lipid and lipoprotein levels and prevalence of metabolic syndrome.

Results: Sisters with PCOS and HA phenotypes had higher total (P < or = 0.001) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (P < or = 0.01) compared with unaffected sisters and control women. Triglyceride levels were elevated only in sisters with the PCOS phenotype (P < 0.05). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was increased in sisters with the PCOS (n = 29) and HA (n = 17) phenotypes compared with unaffected sisters (n = 85) (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively).

Conclusions: Low-density lipoprotein levels are increased in affected sisters of women with PCOS consistent with a heritable trait. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increased in affected sisters.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Sisters with the PCOS and HA phenotypes had significantly higher (***, P ≤ 0.001) total cholesterol levels compared with unaffected sisters (UA) and control women (top left). Total triglyceride levels were significantly higher (*, P < 0.05) in sisters with the PCOS phenotype compared with sisters with the HA phenotype, unaffected sisters, and control women (top right). Sisters with the PCOS and HA phenotypes had significantly higher (**, P ≤ 0.01) LDL levels compared with unaffected sisters and control women (bottom left). HDL cholesterol levels did not differ significantly among the groups (bottom right). Black bars, Sisters with PCOS phenotype; gray bars, sisters with HA phenotype; white bars, unaffected sisters; and hatched bars, control women. To convert total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.02586; to convert total triglyceride to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.01138.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Sisters with PCOS (n = 29) and HA (n = 17) phenotypes had significantly higher (***, P < 0.001 for PCOS vs. unaffected sisters; *, P < 0.05 HA vs. unaffected sisters) prevalence of metabolic syndrome compared with unaffected sisters (n = 85). There was a trend toward higher (P = 0.07) prevalence of metabolic syndrome in sisters with PCOS phenotype compared with sisters with HA phenotype. Black bars, Sisters with PCOS phenotype; gray bars, sisters with HA phenotype; white bars, unaffected sisters.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher (*, P < 0.05) in overweight affected sisters (PCOS and HA phenotypes, n = 14) compared with unaffected sisters (n = 23). There was a trend toward higher (P = 0.07) prevalence of metabolic syndrome in obese affected sisters (n = 25) compared with unaffected sisters (n = 18). Black bars, Affected sisters; white bars, unaffected sisters.
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