Many women with the polycystic ovary syndrome have high serum
antithyroid antibody concentrations
(July 2004)
The background of the study. The polycystic ovary
syndrome is characterized by menstrual disturbances and hyperandrogenemia
(excess male hormones), and many of the women have other endocrine
disorders. In this study the frequency of thyroid dysfunction and
autoimmune thyroiditis was determined in women with the syndrome.
How the study was done. The study subjects were
175 women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (as defined by amenorrhea
or oligomenorrhea and clinical [hirsutism or alopecia] or biochemical
[high serum testosterone] evidence of androgen excess) and 168 normal
women. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH), gonadal steroids, thyrotropin
(TSH), free thyroxine, antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and antithyroglobulin
(anti-Tg) antibodies, and insulin sensitivity were measured and
thyroid ultrasonography was performed in all women.
The results of the study. As compared with the
normal women, the women with the polycystic ovary syndrome were
heavier, had higher serum LH and testosterone concentrations, and
were more resistant to the action of insulin. They also had higher
serum TSH concentrations (2.0 vs. 1.4 mU/L) and higher serum concentrations
of anti-TPO antibodies (123 vs. 10 U/L) and anti-Tg antibodies (113
vs. 4 U/L). The frequency of high serum anti-TPO and anti-Tg antibody
concentrations also was higher in the women with the polycystic
ovary syndrome (27 vs. 8 percent). Thyroid volume was similar in
both groups (15 vs. 12 ml), but hypoechogenicity (indicative of
autoimmune thyroiditis) was more common in the women with the polycystic
ovary syndrome (42 vs. 6 percent.).
The conclusions of the study.
Autoimmune thyroid disease, as manifested by high serum antithyroid
antibody concentrations and ultrasonographic abnormalities, is more
common in women with the polycystic ovary syndrome than in normal
women.
The original article. Janssen OE, Mehlmauer N,
Hahn S, Offner AH, Gartner R. High prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis
in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Eur J Endocrinol 2004;150:363-9.
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