PCOS & Adrenal Disorder: Link Found!

NH Healthwatch Articles: PCOS & Adrenal Disorder.


PCOS Suffers May Have Adrenal Disorder.
NIH researchers discovered association between the two maladies.

A subgroup of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a leading cause of infertility, may produce excess adrenal hormones, according to an early study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.

"Our findings indicate that a subgroup of patients could conceivably benefit from modification of adrenal hormones as well."
-Constantine Stratakis, M.D., Director, Intramural Research Program, NICHD

PCOS is a group of symptoms related to high levels of hormones known as androgens. In many women with the condition, the ovaries contain numerous small, cyst-like sacs. Women with PCOS may have irregular, missing, or prolonged menstrual periods, excessive facial and body hair, insulin resistance, and problems with fertility. Treatment may include drugs that block androgens, and oral contraceptives, which contain the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

"Traditionally, treatment for PCOS has included modifying ovarian hormones," said Constantine Stratakis, M.D., director of intramural research at NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and senior author of the study. "Our findings indicate that a subgroup of patients could conceivably benefit from modification of adrenal hormones as well."

The study was published online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. The study's first author is Evgenia Gourgari, M.D., of Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., who was a research fellow at NICHD when the study was conducted.

In their article, the researchers noted that earlier studies had found that in some women with PCOS, androgens were produced by the adrenal glands, rather than by the ovaries. On the basis of these observations, the researchers decided to test the adrenal functioning of women with PCOS.

A total of 38 women with PCOS volunteered for the study, along with 20 healthy women, who served as a comparison, or control group. They studied the PCOS patients' adrenal functioning with a diagnostic procedure known as Liddle's test, used to diagnose disorders of the adrenal glands. The test consists of a two-part sequence in which women take the drug dexamethasone, which mimics the adrenal hormone cortisol, first in a low dose and then in a high dose. At the end of the test, people with disorders of the adrenal glands often will produce high levels of adrenal hormones.

The researchers found that 15 of the 38 PCOS patients produced more adrenal hormones than normal. The women also had adrenal glands that were smaller than normal.

The researchers theorize that the women's adrenal glands may resemble those seen in a condition called micronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia-in which tiny lumps or nodules appear on the adrenal glands and begin producing adrenal hormones. Because the nodules produce hormones, the adrenals produce fewer hormones and shrink.

Dr. Stratakis added that additional studies with a larger number of patients will be needed to examine the adrenal glands of women with PCOS to confirm the study results and to determine whether the women have micronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia or some other condition affecting the adrenal glands.

About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): The NICHD sponsors research on development, before and after birth; maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visit the Institute's website at http://www.nichd.nih.gov.


Posted 6/27/16

 

Scheduled Events

  Seussical   (9/6-15)
  2001 Space Odyssey   (9/7)
  Muster in the Mountains   (9/7-9)
  Wingzilla   (9/8)
  Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino   (9/9)
  Things [Mom] Taught Me   (9/13-23)
  Reach the Beach   (9/14-15)
  WM Storytelling Festival   (9/14-16)
  Metallak Race   (9/15)
  Mandeville & Richards   (9/15)
  Cohase Film Slam   (9/16)
  Tricycle Grand Prix  (9/16)
  Rodney Crowell   (9/21)
  NH Highland Games   (9/21-23)
  Don Who   (9/22)
  Harvest Celebration   (9/22)
  Health & Wellness Fair   (9/22)
  Jeep Invasion  (9/22)
  Lakes Region Tri Festival   (9/22-23)
  Pat Metheny   (9/26)
  Driving Miss Daisy   (9/27 - 10/6)
  Neko Case   (9/27)
  Shot of JD   (9/28)
  Dixville Half Marathon   (9/29)
  New Hampshire Marathon   (9/29)
  Matthew Odell   (9/30)
  Lincoln Fall Craft Festival   (10/6&7)
  Sparrow Blue & Crowes Pasture   (10/6)
  Oktoberfest  (10/6-7)
  White Mountain Oktoberfest   (10/6-7)
  Fall Foliage Celebration   (10/6-8)
  Sandwich Fair   (10/6-8)
  Paddle the Border   (10/7)
  Lincoln Fall Craft Festival   (10/7-9)
  Shadow Play   (10/10)
  Killer Joe   (10/11-21)
  Greg Brown   (10/12)
  Camping & RV Show   (10/12-14)
  Riverfire & Horrorfest   (10/13)
  Jay Stollman Band   (10/19)
  Murder Dinner Train   (10/19-20)
  Pumpkin Patch Express   (10/19-21)
  All Things Pumpkin   (10/20)
  Ethan Setiawan Band   (10/20)
  Bettye LaVette   (10/26)
  Murder Dinner Train   (10/26-27)
  Pumpkin Patch Express   (10/26-28)
  Berlin Jazz   (10/27)

 ◄ Expanded Calendar ►



Photo Galleries

 

Miss Berlin-Gorham Competition 2012 New England Brewfest 2014 RiverFire, Berlin, NH 2012 Sugar Hill Lupine Festival Gallery 2012 Bristol-Gorham Foliage
Quick Links

 






Business Directory

 

 

                      more ►  

 

 

Attractions

 


Area Attractions opening/closing schedules.


  Alpine Adventures
  Clark's Trading Post
  Cog Railway
  Conway Scenic Railroad
  Flume
  Fort Jefferson Fun Park
  Jericho Mountain ATV Park
  Kancamagus Highway
  Littleton Riverwalk
  Lost River Gorge
  Mountain Meadow Funplex
  Mt. Washington Auto Road
  Polar Caves
  Santa's Village
  Storyland
  Vertical Ventures
  Whale's Tail Water Park
  Woodstock Inn & Brewery

 

more ►  

 

Community Profiles

 

  Bethlehem
  Bretton Woods
  Colebrook
  Conway
  Franconia
  Gorham
  Hanover
  Jackson
  Lebanon
  Lincoln
  Littleton
  North Conway
  Pittsburg
  Plymouth
  Twin Mountain
  Whitefield
  Wolfeboro

more ►  

 

Recreation and Tourism

 

  25 Great Summer Adventures
  Farm To Table Restaurants
  Hiking To Crash Sites
  Little Ski Areas
  Local Movie Theaters
  Local Performance Theaters
  Moose Tours

 

more ►  

 

Other Resources

  NH Cabins & Cottages
  NH Census Info
  NH Data (OEP)
  NH Fishing Reports
  NH Foliage Report
  NH Hiking Trail Conditions
  NH Lottery
  NH Movie Guide
  NH Road Conditions
  NH Ski Reports
  NH Snowmobile Trail Reports
  NH State Parks
  NH Town Officials Directory
  NH Weather
  Summer Safety Tips [.pdf]
  White Mtn. National Forest
  VisitNH.Gov

 

 

 

Copyright 2012-2018 by George C. Jobel, 603-491-4340. All Rights Reserved.