Shazia Shukarud Din, Sadaf Ahmed Asim, Syeda Rabia, Rumina Tabassum, Aisha Razzaque.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome; acne is common presentation in women in relation to menstrual irregularity - a study from hospital in Karachi.
Professional Med J Jan ;20(5):719-25.

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a common disease among the women in reproductive age group and more common in South Asian women. Clinical presentations include menstrual disorders, subfertility, obesity,hirsutism, acne vulgaris and acanthosis. Objectives: The objective of study was to investigate co relation between acne and polycystic ovaries and its relation to menstrual irregularity. Methodology: A total of 56women were enrolled in the study from Outpatient Department of Obs&Gynae and Dermatology, Dow University Hosptial, Ojha campus by convenient sampling. It was cross sectional study, conducted from July 2012 to November 2012.Verbal consent was taken. Sociodemographic information,Anthropometric measurement (height, weight, BMI) and acne severity with affected area, menstrual irregularities were administered on pre designed questionnaire.Pelvic ultrasound for polycystic ovaries and serum LH, FSH in follicular phase of menstrual cycle (2nd day) advised from Dow Radiology and Dow Lab respectively. Results: A total of56 patients of PCOS were enrolled during five month period. The mean age of patient was 21.1+_SD 0.994. Frequency of acne was 32 (57.1%).The mean BMI was 19.66 +_SD 4.54. Face was the commonest area involved in 24 (42.9%). menstrual irregularity was found in 50 (89.4%) women. There was no statistically significant relation seen between acne and oligomenorrhea. (X2 = 0.55 , P = 0.45). It was also determined that there was no co relation seen between the acne and serum testosterone level calculated by independent sample t test.(P = 0.17) but statistically significant association seen between severity of acne and serum LH/FSH ratio. (t test =3.28, p= 0.004) Conclusion: Acne was found in 32 (57.1%) women with PCOS. The study results revealed a significant association seen between severity of acne and serum LH/FSH ratio. Relation between acne and serum testosterone level was statistically insignificant.

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