Dyslipidemia in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: incidence, pattern and predictors.

One hundred forty-two women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with an average body mass index (BMI) of 29.1 kg/m(2) and average age of 25.12 years were studied. By BMI, 30.2% were normal, 38.0% were overweight and 31.6% were obese. Thirty-one eumenorrheic women matched for BMI and age, with no evidence of hyperandrogenism, were recruited as controls. The incidence of dyslipidemia in the PCOS group was twice that of the Control group (76.1% versus 32.25%). The most frequent abnormalities were low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; 57.6%) and high triglyceride (TG) (28.3%). HDL-C was significantly lower in all subgroups of women with PCOS when compared to the subgroups of normal women. No significant differences were seen in the total cholesterol (p = 0.307), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; p = 0.283) and TGs (p = 0.113) levels among the subgroups. An independent effect on HDL-C was detected for glucose (p = 0.004) and fasting insulin (p = 0.01); on TG for age (p = 0.003) and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (p = 0.03) and on total cholesterol and LDL-C for age (p = 0.02 and p = 0.033, respectively). In conclusion, dyslipidemia is common in women with PCOS, mainly due to low HDL-C levels. BMI has a significant impact on this abnormality.

Ovarian hyperthecosis in the context of an adrenal incidentaloma in a postmenopausal woman.

Adrenal incidentaloma is not infrequent and can be found in hirsute women. We report a case of a 54-year-old woman with amenorrhea and hirsutism of abrupt onset and mild signs of virilization that had an adrenal incidentaloma coexisting with ovarian hyperthecosis. Basal total and free testosterone were 191 ng/dL and 179 pmol/L. Pelvic ultrasonography disclosed a right ovary with 10.3 cc and a left ovary with 9.8 cc without nodules or cysts, and computerized tomography of the abdomen disclosed a normal right adrenal gland. On the left adrenal gland a solid nodule with 0.8 cm was seen. After GnRHa administration, total testosterone was 23 ng/dL and free testosterone was 17 pmol/L. In view of a suppression of testosterone by GnRHa, the patient was submitted to a hystero-oophorectomy by laparoscopy. Symmetrically enlarged ovaries were seen. No tumor was apparent. Histology showed hyperthecosis, with foci of luteinized stromal cells. Only atretic follicles were detected. No hilar cell hyperplasia was seen. In conclusion, the presence of an adrenal mass in a hirsute woman can lead to a wrong diagnosis. In this case the suppression GnRHa test was fundamental to determine the origin of hyperandrogenemia.

Ovarian hyperthecosis in the context of an adrenal incidentaloma in a postmenopausal woman / Coexistência de incidentaloma adrenal e hipertecose de ovário em mulher menopausada

Adrenal incidentaloma is not infrequent and can be found in hirsute women. We report a case of a 54-year-old woman with amenorrhea and hirsutism of abrupt onset and mild signs of virilization that had an adrenal incidentaloma coexisting with ovarian hyperthecosis. Basal total and free testosterone were 191 ng/dL and 179 pmol/L. Pelvic ultrasonography disclosed a right ovary with 10.3 cc and a left ovary with 9.8 cc without nodules or cysts, and computerized tomography of the abdomen disclosed a normal right adrenal gland. On the left adrenal gland a solid nodule with 0.8 cm was seen. After GnRHa administration, total testosterone was 23 ng/dL and free testosterone was 17 pmol/L. In view of a suppression of testosterone by GnRHa, the patient was submitted to a hystero-oophorectomy by laparoscopy. Symmetrically enlarged ovaries were seen. No tumor was apparent. Histology showed hyperthecosis, with foci of luteinized stromal cells. Only atretic follicles were detected. No hilar cell hyperplasia was seen. In conclusion, the presence of an adrenal mass in a hirsute woman can lead to a wrong diagnosis. In this case the suppression GnRHa test was fundamental to determine the origin of hyperandrogenemia.

Os incidentalomas adrenais não são infreqüentes e podem ser encontrados em pacientes com hirsutismo. Nesse relato, apresentamos o caso de coexistência de um incidentaloma adrenal com hipertecose de ovário, em uma mulher com 54 anos de idade com amenorréia e hirsutismo de início abrupto e sinais leves de virilização. As testosteronas total e livre basal foram de 191 ng/dL e 179 pmol/L, respectivamente. O ultra-som pélvico demonstrou o ovário direito com 10,3 cc e ovário esquerdo com 9,8 cc, sem nódulos ou cistos e a tomografia computadorizada de abdome demonstrou adrenal direita adrenal e nódulo sólido de 0,8 cm na adrenal esquerda. Após a administração de análogo de GnRH, as testosteronas total e livre foram de 23 ng/dL e 17 pmol/L, respectivamente. Considerando a supressão da concentração de testosterona pelo análogo de GnRH, a paciente foi submetida a histeroooforectomia por via laparoscópica. O diagnóstico histológico foi de hipertecose, com focos de células estromais luteinizadas. Somente folículos atréticos foram visualizados. Não se detectou hiperplasia de células hilares. Em conclusão, a presença de massa adrenal em uma paciente com hirsutismo pode levar ao diagnóstico errado. Neste caso, o teste de supressão com análogo de GnRH foi fundamental para se determinar a origem da hiperandrogenemia.