New Diagnostic Criteria of Polycystic Ovarian Morphology for Adolescents: Impact on Prevalence and Hormonal Profile.

BACKGROUND: The ultrasonographic criteria used to identify polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) during adolescence have changed over time. Recently, a Worldwide Pediatric Consensus (PedC) defined PCOM using stricter criteria than the previous recommendations of the Rotterdam Consensus (RC) and Androgen Excess-Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Society (AES/PCOS) criteria. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of PCOM in healthy adolescents according to the 3 reported diagnostic criteria and compare the hormonal profile in females with and without PCOM based on the PedC criteria. METHODS: Nonobese adolescents (n = 102) with regular menstrual cycles were studied. Transabdominal ultrasound and hormonal profiles were assessed during the follicular phase. PCOM was defined on the basis of the 3 published criteria. RESULTS: On the basis of the PedC, RC, and AES/PCOS criteria, PCOM was diagnosed in 13, 34, and 24% of adolescents, respectively. Adolescents with and without PCOM according to the PedC criteria had similar androgen levels. Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels were elevated in adolescents with PCOM, irrespective of the criteria used. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the new PedC diagnostic criteria for PCOM results in a lower prevalence of this ultrasonographic pattern in adolescents, but this condition is not associated with hyperandrogenism. Elevated AMH is associated with PCOM in adolescents regardless of the criteria used to determine the ultrasonographic pattern.

Hirsutism and oligomenorrhea are appropriate screening criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescents.

We evaluated the association of hirsutism and oligomenorrhea (persistent menstrual cycles > 45 days) as screening criteria for the detection of biochemical hyperandrogenism (BH) and polycystic ovaries (PCOM) during adolescence and determined which androgens, granulosa cell hormone, ultrasonographic parameters have the best association with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Hirsute girls with oligomenorrhea (N = 26 Hirs/Oligo group) and non-hirsute girls with regular cycles (N = 63, C group) were studied. Prevalence of BH and PCOM, diagnostic performance of androgens and ultrasound parameters for PCOS diagnosis were analyzed. BH and PCOM prevalence were higher in the Hirs/Oligo girls than in the C girls (76.9% versus 25.5%; 92.3% versus 33.3%, respectively; p < 0.0001). A complete PCOS phenotype (Hirs/Oligo with BH and PCOM) was observed in 73.1% of the Hirs/Oligo group. The presence of both BH and PCOM was observed in 7.9% of the C group. The parameters with the best diagnostic performance were free androgen index ≥6.1, testosterone ≥2.4 nmol/L, follicle number ≥12 and ovarian volume ≥10 ml anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) exhibited a low diagnostic accuracy. Hirsutism and persistent menstrual cycle over 45 days are highly associated with BH and PCOM suggesting that the presences of both criteria are necessary for the diagnosis of PCOS during adolescence.

Síndrome de ovario poliquístico: diagnóstico en la adolescencia / Polycystic ovary syndrome: diagnosis during adolescence

La sospecha de Síndrome de Ovario Poliquístico es un motivo de consulta frecuente durante la adolescencia, esto probablemente está dado por la sobreposición de las características fisiológicas de este período con los criterios diagnósticos tradicionalmente usados para definir este síndrome, tales como ciclos menstruales irregulares, hiperandrogenismo y morfología ecográfica de ovario poliquístico. Es por esto que parece importante discutir si los criterios diagnósticos de Síndrome de Ovario Poliquístico aplicados en mujeres adultas pueden extrapolarse a los primeros años postmenarquia. En este artículo se discute el diagnóstico de Síndrome de Ovario Poliquístico en la adolescencia, sus controversias y su manejo.

The suspicion of polycystic ovary syndrome is a common complaint during adolescence, and is probably given by the overlap of physiological characteristics of this period of life with the diagnostic criteria traditionally used to define this syndrome, such as irregular menstrual cycles, hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovarian morphology. This is why it seems important to discuss whether these diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome in adults can be extrapolated to the early years postmenarche. This article will discuss the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescence, their controversies and their management.

A rational approach to the diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome during adolescence / Uma abordagem racional do diagnóstico da síndrome dos ovários policísticos na adolescência

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a lifelong disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism and ovulatory dysfunction, with a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms and signs. Three different sets of diagnostic criteria have been established in order to define this disease in adult women, but there is controversy regarding the use of these criteria in adolescence. During puberty, the adult criteria for ovulatory dysfunction does not seem applicable, because an irregular menstrual pattern and a decreased ovulatory rate is a physiologic event during this period of life. Also, a higher prevalence of polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) may be observed during this period, so PCOM is not a useful criterion to define PCOS in young women. These findings suggest that a key factor to diagnose to PCOS during adolescence is hyperandrogenism. In addition, since PCOM is not clearly associated with hyperandrogenism during this period of life, the term "polycystic ovarian syndrome" during adolescence creates confusion and may be misleading.

A síndrome dos ovários policísticos (SOP) é uma desordem que afeta pacientes por toda a vida e é caracterizada por hiperandrogenismo e disfunção ovariana, com um amplo leque de sintomas e sinais clínicos. Três diferentes conjuntos de critérios diagnósticos foram estabelecidos para definir essa doença em mulheres adultas, mas existem controvérsias relacionadas ao uso desses critérios na adolescência. Durante a puberdade, o critério de disfunção ovariana usado em adultos não parece aplicável, porque um padrão menstrual irregular e uma menor taxa de ovulação são eventos fisiológicos nesse período da vida. Além disso, uma maior prevalência de morfologia ovariana policística (MOP) pode ser observada nesse período, de forma que a MOP não é um critério útil para se definir a SOP em mulheres jovens. Esses achados sugerem que o hiperandrogenismo é um fator-chave para o diagnóstico da SOP na adolescência. Além disso, como a MOP não está claramente associada com o hiperandrogenismo durante esse período da vida, o termo "síndrome dos ovários policísticos" durante a adolescência cria confusão e pode ser errôneo.