IJCS | Volume 32, Nº1, January/ February 2019

6 Table 2. Vascular parameters of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) (n = 52) Control (n = 29) PCOS (n = 23) p value Flow mediated vasodilation (%) 12.8 ± 1.2 8.8 ± 1.0 0.021 CR PWV (m/s) 9.1 ± 0.3 8.8 ± 0.2 0.930 CF PWV (m/s) 7.5 ± 0.3 7.5 ± 0.2 0.671 Augmentation pressure (mmHg) 6 ± 1 8 ± 2 0.337 Augmentation index (%) 20 ± 2 21 ± 1 0.716 Aortic systolic pressure (mmHg) 106 ± 2 116 ± 5 0.320 Aortic pulse pressure (mmHg) 31± 1 35 ± 4 0.335 Values expressed as mean ± standard error; CF- PWV: carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity; CR-PWV: carotid-radial pulse wave velocity. Between-group differences were analyzed using unpaired Student’s t-test, considering a significance level of 5% and a two-tailed probability. Figure 1 - Lower brachial flow-mediated dilation values in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) group (n = 29) compared with control group (n = 23). P value = 0.021 by Student’s t-test . Burlá et al. Vascular changes in polycystic ovarian syndrome Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2019;32(1)3-9 Original Article seborrheic dermatitis and acanthosis nigricans were observed in PCOS patients. Brachial artery diameter was similar between the groups (3.13 ± 0.38 vs. 3.23 ± 0.37, p = 0.49). PCOS group had significant lower FMD than control group (Figure 1). PWV, AIx and aortic pressures were similar between the groups (Table 2). When PCOS individuals were divided into two groups according to the median of serum testosterone (46.4 ng/ dL), those with higher and lower testosterone levels had similar baseline clinical and laboratorial characteristics. PWV, FMD and aortic pressures were also similar between the groups. However, AIx was significantly higher in patients with higher testosterone levels (25 ± 2 vs. 17 ± 3%, p = 0.045; Figure 2). Discussion In the present study, young overweight women with PCOS had endothelial dysfunction. In addition, women with PCOS and higher testosterone levels had higher