PCO

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Thought this might be of interest to the PCO ladies in the group.

There is a VERY STRONG connection between PCO (Polycystic ovary

syndrome), multifollicular ovaries (MFO) and hereditary angioedema

(HANE). Hugs, Myra

Hu Clin Exp Immunol 1992 Dec;90(3):401-4

Cystic ovaries in women affected with hereditary angioedema.

Perricone R, Pasetto N, De Carolis C, Vaquero E, Noccioli G, Panerai

AE, Fontana L.

Dipartimento di Chirurgia, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.

Polycystic ovary (PCO) syndrome is biochemically characterized by

abnormal gonadotropin secretion and polycystic ovaries associated

with increase in size and functional activity of stromal tissue;

multifollicular ovaries (MFO) are defined by the presence of multiple

cysts with no increase in stromal tissue. A central (hypothalamic-

pituitary) abnormality, including high plasma beta-endorphin (BE)

concentrations without simultaneous elevation of ACTH, was reported

for subjects with PCO syndrome. Since we have found the presence of

high plasma BE concentrations in hereditary angioedema (HANE) during

attacks as well as during symptom-free periods, we studied, by means

of pelvic ultrasound scanning employed to determine the prevalence of

PCO and of MFO, 13 women of reproductive age affected with HANE who

were not on oral contraceptives. We have found PCO in 5/13 (38.4%)

and MFO in 7/13 (53.8%) HANE patients. Nine patients had

oligomenorrhoea (five with PCO, three with MFO, one with normal

ovaries), five (three with PCO, two with MFO) were hirsute and only

one (with MFO) had weight loss. No patient was obese. Mean plasma LH,

testosterone, prolactin, cortisol and ACTH concentrations were

normal, while FSH was significantly reduced and LH/FSH ratio

increased. BE concentrations were significantly high in all the

patients studied. Our results clearly demonstrate that women with

HANE frequently have cystic ovaries (polycystic or multifollicular)

in the presence of high BE concentrations.

PMID: 1333923 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] gs, Myra