Purpose of review: Polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common endocrinopathies affecting premenopausal women. This review focuses on this major cause of hyperandrogenism in adolescents and young women, highlighting new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that are under investigation. The pathophysiologic role in the disorder are the subject of several recent reports.
Recent findings: Recent studies have found a 33% prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance in a cohort of affected adolescents, higher fasting insulin levels and lower insulin sensitivity, and that glucose tolerance testing appears to be necessary for routine screening. The effects of hyperinsulinism may be counteracted by insulin sensitizing agents. In adult women with polycystic ovary syndrome, metformin treatment reduced hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenemia. In some obese adolescents, metformin therapy resulted in declines in body mass index, insulin, and glucose. Restoration of regular menses may also occur after metformin treatment. Thus, data is accumulating that insulin-sensitizing agents may be helpful in decreasing the pathophysiologic effects of hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance associated with polycystic ovary syndrome. Other hormonal alterations in polycystic ovary syndrome have also been the subject of recent reports. Leptin secretion was found to be markedly irregular in these women. Elevated LH secretion may be secondary to accelerated gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator activity, although the etiology of the pulse alterations is unclear.
Summary: Although polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder affecting young women, it is one of the least understood, reflected by the wealth of research in this area. One area of focus has been the pathophysiologic link between insulin resistance and this disorder, including the effects of promising new agents to counteract these effects.