Relationship between TSH, T4, T3 and Prolactin in overweight and lean Sudanese PCOS Patients

Objectives: to examine the role of PCOS in alteration of TSH, T4, T3 and prolactin as well as correlating the outcome to obesity.

Methods: One Hundred female patients with PCOS based on Rotterdam 2003 criteria. Together with fifty healthy volunteer females included as controls. Serum levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Thyroxine (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3) and prolactin were tested in the two groups. Body mass index (BMI) evaluated to be a part of the correlation.

Results: A significant increase was found in TSH and prolactin (P<0.05) along with a significant decrease in T4 in PCOS females matched against controls(P<0.05). Only lean patients showed significantly high T4 in contrast to controls(P<0.05). T4 showed insignificant difference between overweight patients and controls (P>0.05).

Conclusions: PCOS linked to hypothyroidism, and the latter may cause hyperprolactinemia in the same individual. Association of hyperprolactinemia and PCOS entails assessment of alternative causes of hyperprolactinemia, and this assessment should include thyroid function.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; BMI; Thyroid Hormones; Prolactin

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