ESPE Abstracts

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hyperandrogenic disorder in pubertal girls affecting between 3 and 11 % of them. Menstrual irregularities and hyperandrogenism are the main characteristics of the syndrome. PCOS is associated with obesity, cardiovascular complications, impaired fertility and increased cancer risk in adulthood. Some of these complications are potentially preventable with timely diagnosis, life-style change and pharmacological therapy.

Objectives: To compare, clinical, metabolic and hormonal parameters and expression of selected microRNAs (miRNAs) between adolescent girls with PCOS and healthy controls.

Materials and Methods: 51 adolescent girls, mean age 15.8 years, were included in the study after ethical aproval. Thirty-six girls were diagnosed with PCOS according to the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, 15 girls were age and BMI-matched healthy controls. Same auxological, physical, metabolic and hormonal parameters and selected miRNAs (miR-451a, miR-15a-5p, miR-320-5p, miR-28-5p, mir-103a-5p, miR-194-5p) were investigated in all participants. Pelvic US was performed by a single experienced echographist. SPSS was used for the statistical analysis.

Results: There were no significant differences in the auxological parameters, BMI and waist circumference between the participants. The rate of menstrual irregularities was significantly higher in PCOS girls (P <0.001). The prevalence of clinical hyperandrogenism (hirsutism, acne) and Ferriman-Gallwey score were significantly higher in PCOS patients (P <0.05 for all variables). The androgens (testosterone, androstendione and free androgen index) were significantly higher in PCOS girls compared to controls (P <0.05 for all variables), while SHBG was significantly lower (P = 0.02). AMH levels were significantly higher in PCOS group (P = 0.016). We did not find any significant differences for the metabolic and other hormonal parameters (fasting plasma glucose, insulin levels and HOMA-IR, lipid profile, LH and LH:FSH ratio, 17-OHP and others). There was no significant difference in the presence of US polycystic ovarian morphology between PCOS girls and controls. We found significant differences between patients and controls for only two miRNAs – miR-320-5p and mir-103a-5p. Both miRNAs were significantly up-regulated in PCOS girls (P = 0.001 and 0.003) but did not correlate with any metabolic, hormonal and US parameters.

Conclusion: There is significant prevalence of menstrual irregularities and hyperandrogenism in the PCOS girls. AMH, SHBG and selected miRNAs could be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis of PCOS.