Objective: To determine the effects of hyperprolactinemia (hyperPRL) upon the symptoms of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Methods: Age, body mass index, levels of hormone, lipid, beta-cell function and family medical history of 224 women with PCOS and 30 women with hyperPRL + PCOS were compared.
Results: Patients with hyperPRL + PCOS were younger to develop endocrine disturbances, an increased incidence of acne (64% vs 28% respectively), a high level of androstenedione (20 + or - 7 vs 13 + or - 5) nmol/L respectively and prolactine in serum (1492 + or - 1175 vs 367 + or - 164) mIU/L respectively; The PCOS patients were divided into the groups of hyperandrogenism PCOS and non-hyperandrogenism PCOS depending on the serum level of androgen. A higher level of T and A was found in serum in PRL-PCOS than non-hyperandrogenism patients and similar as hyperandrogenism PCOS patients. They had reduced ApoB (680 + or - 230 nmol/L vs 943 + or - 179 mmol/L respectively) and Lpa level (46 + or - 22 nmol/L vs 162 + or - 194 mmol/L respectively) and high HOMA-IR when compared with non-hyperandrogenism PCOS; Patients' sisters with hyperPRL + PCOS had a significantly greater incidence of acne, higher rates of infertility and PCOS when compared with PCOS patients. Levels of other hormones, metabolic profiles and other family histories did not differ between patients with PCOS and hyper-PRL+PCOS.
Conclusion: Patients with hyperPRL + PCOS develop the endocrine disturbances at a younger age, a greater incidence rate of acne, level of prolactin and androstenedione, they have reduced ApoB and increased HOMA-IR. Patients' sisters with hyperPRL + PCOS have significantly greater incidence of acne, higher rates of infertility and PCOS as when compared with PCOS patients.