Endothelial abnormalities in young women with PCOS: correlations with insulin resistance and decreased levels of serum adiponectin

Abstract PURPOSE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an extremely prevalent disorder in which elevated blood markers of cardiovascular risk and altered endothelial function have been found. This study was designed to determine if abnormal carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in young women with PCOS may be explained by insulin resistance and elevated adipocytokines. METHODS: A prospective study in 50 young women with PCOS (age: 25.2 +/- 1 years; body mass index [BMI]: 28.7 +/- 0.8) and 50 matched ovulatory controls (age: 25.1 +/- 0.7 years; BMI: 28.5 +/- 0.5) was performed. Carotid IMT, brachial FMD, and blood for fasting glucose, insulin, leptin, …