A Genetically Defined Male Counterpart of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Evidence for Ovarian-Independent Pathogenesis
May 2021
in “
Journal of the Endocrine Society
”
Studysummary This study found that in men with high genetic risk factors for polycystic ovary syndrome, there was an associated increase in obesity, type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, and androgenic conditions, suggesting these genetic factors can act independently of ovarian function.
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The study "A Genetically Defined Male Counterpart of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Evidence for Ovarian-Independent Pathogenesis" investigated a male equivalent of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) using a polygenic risk score (PRS) algorithm based on 206,851 unrelated women of European ancestry, and applied it to 176,360 men. The results showed that men with a high PCOS PRS (top 20%) had a 17% increased risk of obesity, 15% increased risk of type 2 diabetes, 5% increased risk of coronary artery disease, and 5% increased risk for androgenic alopecia. The study concluded that PCOS genetic risk factors can act independently of ovarian function, suggesting that the reproductive dysfunction of PCOS in women may arise secondarily from disruption of biological pathways common to both men and women.
