Biomediators in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is extremely heterogeneous in terms of clinical manifestations. The variability of the syndrome’s phenotype is derived from the genetic and molecular heterogeneity, with a great deal of environmental factors that may have long-term health consequences, such as metabolic and cardiovascular (CV) diseases. There is no doubt that women with PCOS suffer from metabolic complications more than their age-matched counterparts in the general population and at an earlier age. Obesity, low steroid hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), hyperandrogenemia, insulin resistance, and compensatory hyperinsulinemia are biomediators and early predictors of metabolic complications in PCOS. Doubts remain about the real risk of CV diseases in PCOS and the molecular mechanisms at the basis of CV complications. Based on that assumption, this review will present the available evidence on the potential implications of some biomediators, in particular, hyperandrogenism, estrogen-progesterone imbalance, insulin resistance, and low SHBG, in the processes leading to CV disease in PCOS, with the final aim to propose a more accurate CV risk assessment.