Endothelial Dysfunction and Pulse Wave Reflection in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Abstract Background: Patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome and traditional atherosclerotic risk factors, such as dyslipidemia, diabetes and hypertension. Endothelial function and vascular stiffness are surrogate markers of early atherosclerosis, able to predict cardiovascular events. Objective: To compare endothelial function and pulse wave reflection between women with PCOS and healthy controls. Methods: Observational and cross-sectional study that included women with PCOS, age between 18 and 40 years-old and body mass index between 25.0 and 35.0 kg/m2, and healthy controls. Rotterdan criteria was used to diagnose PCOS. Subjects underwent clinical and anthropometric evaluation, laboratory and hormonal assays and imaging tests to measure pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx) and brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD). Kolmogorov-Smirnov test showed normal distribution of most parameters. Unpaired Student t-test was used with significance level established at p研究背景：多囊卵巢综合征（polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS）患者代谢综合征及血脂异常、糖尿病、高血压等传统动脉粥样硬化危险因素的患病率更高。内皮功能与血管僵硬度是早期动脉粥样硬化的替代标志物，可用于预测心血管事件。研究目的：比较多囊卵巢综合征女性患者与健康对照人群的内皮功能及脉搏波反射水平。研究方法：本研究为观察性横断面研究，纳入年龄介于18至40岁、体质量指数为25.0~35.0 kg/m²的多囊卵巢综合征女性患者及健康对照人群。采用鹿特丹标准（Rotterdam criteria）诊断多囊卵巢综合征。所有受试者均接受临床与人体测量学评估、实验室及激素检测，并通过影像学检查测量脉搏波速度（pulse wave velocity, PWV）、增强指数（augmentation index, AIx）及肱动脉血流介导的血管舒张功能（flow-mediated vasodilation, FMD）。Kolmogorov-Smirnov检验显示多数参数呈正态分布，采用非配对Student t检验进行分析，检验水准设定为p