Ovarian morphology and prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in Japanese women with type 1 diabetes mellitus

AIMS/INTRODUCTION Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous disorder including polycystic ovary morphology (PCOM), ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism. PCOS is frequently associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus; however, it is unknown whether PCOM and PCOS are prevalent in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of our study was to determine the frequency of PCOM and PCOS in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated clinical, hormonal and ovarian ultrasound data from 21 type 1 diabetes mellitus patients whose average glycated hemoglobin levels were 7.9 ± 1.5%. RESULTS Ultrasound identified PCOM in 11 patients (52.4%) and these patients also had higher levels of the androgen dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) than those without PCOM (P < 0.05). Of the patients with PCOM, five presented menstrual irregularities (45.5%) and three met the Japanese criteria for PCOS (27.2%); whereas all patients without PCOM had a normal menstrual cycle (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Japanese premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes mellitus had a high frequency of PCOM as well as PCOS. This is the first research of this area carried out in an Asian population.