Close Correlation Between Hyperandrogenism and Insulin Resistance in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Based on Liquid Chromatography With Tandem Mass Spectrometry Measurements

The study, involving 332 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 63 with insulin resistance (IR), along with 276 control subjects, found a significant correlation between hyperandrogenism (HA) and IR. Using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to measure serum total testosterone (TT), the study demonstrated that HA was more prevalent in PCOS patients with IR, as defined by hyperinsulinemia (HIN), homeostatic model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR), and impaired fasting glucose (IFG), compared to those without IR. The incidence of HA was 80.97% vs 37.89% for HIN, 68.53% vs 38.52% for increased HOMA-IR, and 80.36% vs 51.45% for IFG. The study also showed that IR rates were higher in patients with high TT levels. These findings suggest that the relationship between HA and IR in PCOS patients is strong and may have been previously underestimated due to less accurate TT measurement methods. Parameters like HIN, HOMA-IR, and IFG are likely involved in the development of HA in these patients.