Study of Insulin Resistance, Glucose Tolerance and Lipid Profile in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

To assess the correlation between insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance in PCO patients and also to evaluate IR and altered lipid profile in them. A prospective study was carried out from Feb. 2006 to Aug. 2007 on total of 75 patients. Out of them 40 patients were taken as cases having clinical and USG features of PCOS and 35 patients were taken as control having no features of PCOS. Fasting serum insulin, blood sugar, 2hr PGBS testosterone and lipid profile measured in both study & control group. PCOS is more prevalent in younger age groups. Average distribution of age in both groups was 23.6 ± 4 and 25.09 ± 4.5 respectively. Oligomenorrhoea is more common (60%) than secondary amenorrhoea (25%) in PCOS. Hyperandrogenism presents commonly as hirsutism (62.5%) and acne (35%). BMI was > 25 in 40% of cases and 20% of controls.17.5% of PCOS women had impaired fasting and 2hr PGBS but none of them had frank diabetes. The mean fasting insulin value in PCOS was significantly higher than that of controls (i.e., 18.64 ± 9.33 vs. 8.59 ± 3.03). The fasting glucose to insulin ratio was < 4.5 in 52.5% of cases and > 4.5 in 91.4 % in controls. Primary infertility was common in 76.2% of cases. There were no significant lipid profile abnormalities in both groups. Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are commonly associated with PCOS. Patients with IR have higher incidence of IGT hence as a prophylactic measure all patients with PCOS should be screened for insulin resistance and followed thereafter to prevent development of frank diabetes.