Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Among Female Adolescents With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common endocrine disease in adolescent females that is usually diagnosed based on clinical and hormonal abnormalities. Female adolescents with poorly controlled congenital adrenal hyperplasia are at increased risk of developing polycystic ovary syndrome. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome and assess its relationship with hormonal control among adolescents with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

This retrospective descriptive study included 40 pubertal female adolescents aged between 12 and 20 years with at least two years after menarche diagnosed with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia since birth who were screened routinely for polycystic ovary syndrome via pelvic ultrasonography between 2012 and 2020 at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Serum adrenocorticotropic hormone, 17-hydroxy -progesterone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were measured.

Polycystic ovary syndrome was detected via routine pelvic ultrasonography in 12/40 (30%) females. The median age of the affected females was 16.6 years, with the youngest female aged 12.5 years. The bone age of the patients had advanced ≤3 years. Further, serum adrenocorticotropic hormone was determined to be an independent factor affecting polycystic ovary syndrome development, indicating poor hormonal control (P = 0.005).

Polycystic ovary disease is likely a complication of poorly controlled congenital adrenal hyperplasia disease. Therefore, increasing the awareness of polycystic ovary disease among congenital adrenal hyperplasia females via routine ultrasonography screening is advisable to facilitate the early diagnosis and improve disease management.