Resumen

FERNANDEZ-MORALES, Donald. Manifestaciones clínicas del síndrome del ovario poliquístico. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2005, vol.47, n.4, pp.180-185. ISSN 0001-6002.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most frequent endocrine disorder. In 1976 Kahn described the relation of ovarian hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance. Bergen in 1980 established the association between polycystic ovaries, hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinemia and described that polycystic ovary syndrome was not only a cause of infertility and anovulation, but also had an associated metabolic risk. Polycystic ovary syndrome was redefined by a 2003 Holland consensus workshop. This condition is felt to be present if there are 2 of 3 possible diagnostic criteria: menstrual irregularities, biochemical o clinical signs of androgen excess and the presence of polycystic ovary morphology. The gynecologist frequentIy makes this diagnosis and has to have an adequate knowledge of the clinical signs and the possible long term risks. The evidence of a possible association with endometrial cancer and an increased cardiovascular disease risk is incomplete because the variety of definitions of polycystic ovary syndrome makes difficult the comparison of the studies. Dunaif claims that the prevalence of insulin resistance is a function of the studied population and the sensitivity and specificity of the method used to measure this parameter. She also mentions that women with polycystic ovary syndrome are hyperinsulinemic and insulin resistant, independentIy of obesity, compared with normal women. Legro demonstrated that 25 to 30% of the women with polycystic ovary syndrome have glucose intolerance and that Diabetes Mellitus occurs in 8% each year. He says that fasting glucose concentration is not a reliable predictor of the prevalence of diabetes in comparison with the 75 grams glucose tolerance test (American Society of Diabetes). He also says that the fasting deterrnination is a berter screening method, with the same predictive value for development of micro vascular complications.

Palabras clave : prevalence; anovulation; hyperandrogenism; polycystic ovaries; insulin resistance; type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; coronary artery disease.