A survey on the clinical characteristics of reproductive endocrinology of women with epilepsy / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the reproductive endocrine status of women with epilepsy at childbearing age and to systematically analyze the clinical features of reproductive endocrine disorders,especially polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS),to facilitate early detection and timely intervention.Methods In this study,scoring of anthropometry and physical signs,menstrul assessment,examination of sex hormone and pelvic ultrasound in women with epilepsy at childbearing age were performed,and the data such as overweight,central obesity,oligo/amenorrhea,luteinizing hormone (LH)/follicule-stimulating hormone (FSH),hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovary (PCO) were collected. The characteristics of their reproductive endocrine hormone disorders were analyzed statistically. Results The age of these patients was (22. 5 ± 7.0 ) years,and women younger than 30 years old and at their peak fertility accounted for 84. 89%. The prevalence rate of PCOS in women with epilepsy at childbearing age (12. 75% ) was significantly higher than that of ordinary women at childbearing age (7.2%) in China.Highly specific indicators for PCOS were hyperandrogenism (100%),LH/FSH ＞ 2 (93%) and oligo/amenorrhea (90%),whilst the highly sensitive indicators for PCOS were PCO (92%), oligo/amenorrhea (85%) and hyperandrogenism (54%). This study revealed statistically significant difference in LH,LH/FSH and testosterone (T) between PCOS group (LH: (10.24 ± 6.92) IU/L; LH/FSH;(2.20 ± 1.16);T: ( 1.07 ± 0. 35) ng/ml) and non-PCOS group ( LH: (4. 16 ± 2.62 ) IU/L; LH/FSH:( 0. 87 ± 0. 56 );T: (0. 46 ±0. 25) ng/ml,t = -3. 899,-4. 240 and -4. 918 respectively,all P ＜0. 01 ). Conclusions Hormone indices are objective indicators for the diagnosis of PCOS. In clinical practice,attention should be paid to height,weight,abodominal circumference,menstrul history and ultrasound examination of the ovary in women with epilepsy.When reproductive endocrine hormone disorders are suspected from clinical features,the sex hormones (T,LH,and FSH ) should be checked to allow timely detection and early interventions.