Polycystic ovary syndrome and the metabolic syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinological disorder in female reproductive age. Insulin resistance (IR) and compensatory hyperinsulinemia seem to be the main pathophysiologies of this syndrome. Therefore, PCOS is at risk for abnormal glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, central obesity and hypertension. Also, plasminogen activator-inhibitor-1 (PAL-1), hemostatic factor and C-reactive protein (CRP), inflammatory factor have been reported in PCOS women. The metabolic syndrome (MS), a clustering of several metabolic abnormalities, is more prevalent in PCOS. One-third to 46% of PCOS women with MS have been reported. Since these metabolic abnormalities as well as MS are the important risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD), PCOS is at risk for CVD.