The Frequency of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Females with Resistant Acne Vulgaris

The study, conducted 13 years ago, assessed the frequency of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in 123 female patients with resistant acne vulgaris compared to 123 age-matched controls without acne. It found that 51.2% of the patients with resistant acne had PCOS, a significantly higher rate than the 6.2% observed in the control group. The study revealed that menstrual disturbances, premenstrual acne flare-ups, hirsutism, obesity, and a family history of resistant acne were more common in patients with PCOS. Notably, 82.5% of the acne patients with PCOS had hirsutism, and 28.6% had androgenetic alopecia, compared to 6.6% and 10%, respectively, in those without PCOS. Additionally, 50% of the PCOS patients with acne experienced infertility, and there were significant elevations in total testosterone levels and the LH/FSH ratio. The study concluded that these features should be considered when diagnosing PCOS in females with treatment-resistant acne.