Study on the Differences of Endocrine and Metabolic Characteristics in Clinical Subtypes of PCOS

ObjectiveTo investigate the differences of endocrine and metabolic characteristics in PCOS women among different subtypes.MethodsA total of 249 PCOS women were classified into 4 subtypes by Rotterdam criteria: hyperandrogenism (HA) and oligo-ovulation/anovulation (O) and PCO ultrasonography (P) (HA+O+P, group A, 111 women); HA+O (group B, 9 women); HA+P (group C, 22 women) and O+P (group D, 107 women). Another 110 infertile women with tubal defects constituted a control group. Endocrine and metabolic characteristics were compared among the 5 groups. PCOS women were then reclassified into 2 groups, according to whether they have hyperandrogenism or not. Endocrine and metabolic characteristics were then compared again.ResultsThe levels of androstenedione (A), testosterone (T) and LH/FSH were the highest in group A and group C, secondly in group D, the lowest was in control group. A, T and LH/FSH were the highest in hyperandrogenism group, secondly in non-hyperandrogenism group, whereas the control was the lowest. Menstrual cycle and BMI correlated with glucose and lipid metabolism but showed no correlation with T and A. Hyperandrogenism group had higher fasting glucose (FG), glucose at 60 min (G60) and glucose levels under the curve (GLUAUC) and lower disposition index (DI) than non-hyperandrogenism group, however, menstrual cycle, BMI and the lipid indicators had no difference.ConclusionsHyperandrogenism is an important characteristic in PCOS women. Thus it might be used to classify PCOS into 2 subgroups. Hyperandrogenism and lipid disorders for the formation of PCOS often coexist but each has individual pathogenesis.