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Presence of metabolic risk factors in non-obese PCOS sisters: Evidence of heritability of insulin resistance

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Abstract

This study was performed to determine whether phenotypically healthy sisters of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have evidence of insulin resistance. We studied 54 women: 17 with PCOS, 17 sisters of these probands and 20 control women with similar age, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). The PCOS sisters had neither clinical nor laboratory evidence of hyperandrogenism. However, estimated insulin resistance indices indicated decreased insulin sensitivity in PCOS sisters compared with the controls. No difference of insulin resistance indices was detected between the PCOS and their sisters. This finding provides additional evidence that there is a hereditary trait regarding insulin resistance in the PCOS families.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrine Section, First Department of Internal Medicine, Athens University School of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, 1A Zefyrou str, Athens, 145 78, Greece

    E. Diamanti-Kandarakis MD, PhD, K. Alexandraki, A. Bergiele, H. Kandarakis & A. Aessopos

  2. Endocrine Unit, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaeion Hospital, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece

    G. Mastorakos

Authors
  1. E. Diamanti-Kandarakis MD, PhD
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  2. K. Alexandraki
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  3. A. Bergiele
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  4. H. Kandarakis
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  5. G. Mastorakos
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  6. A. Aessopos
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Correspondence to E. Diamanti-Kandarakis MD, PhD.

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Diamanti-Kandarakis, E., Alexandraki, K., Bergiele, A. et al. Presence of metabolic risk factors in non-obese PCOS sisters: Evidence of heritability of insulin resistance. J Endocrinol Invest 27, 931–936 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347535

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