Polycystic ovary syndrome and autoimmunity.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by laboratory and/or clinical features consisting of hyperandrogenism with chronic anovulation and is currently one of the most common endocrinopathies in women of fertile age. PCOS is associated with a variety of endocrine and metabolic disturbances. It was demonstrated that the prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis is high among these patients. Recent studies reveal a higher incidence of autoantibodies such as anti-histone, anti-dsDNA presented in systemic autoimmune disease, however their clinical significance is still unknown. According to results of current research the syndrome could be possibly associated with some autoimmune diseases. Further studies are required to determine the role of organ-specific and non-specific autoantibodies in patients with PCOS. Copyright (c) 2010. Published by Elsevier B.V.