Not all women diagnosed with PCOS share the same cardiovascular risk profiles

Received 23 January 2009; received in revised form 7 April 2009; accepted 8 April 2009. published online 08 June 2009.

Although definitive and confirmatory data are lacking, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are considered to be at increased risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disease. In recent years, the diagnosis of PCOS has broadened considerably to result in several phenotypes. Here we review the evidence for cardiovascular and metabolic risks in PCOS in the classic disorder and the various phenotypes. We conclude that not all women with PCOS should be considered as being similar in terms of cardiovascular risk profiles.

Key Words: PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome, cardiovascular risk, metabolic syndrome, obesity, atherosclerosis, phenotypes, Rotterdam

a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York

b Department of Clinical Medicine and Emerging Diseases, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Reprint requests: Rogerio A. Lobo, M.D., Columbia University Medical Center, 622 W 168th St. 16th Floor, New York, NY 10032 (FAX: 212-305-4326).

V.P.J. has nothing to disclose. E.C. has nothing to disclose. R.A.L. has nothing to disclose.

PII: S0015-0282(09)00865-6

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.04.021

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