Abstract

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) represents a complex endocrine pathology characterized by hyperandrogenism, amenorrhea and multiple ovarian cysts. Often the symptoms begin in adolescence and if not discovered and treated in time, the pathology can lead to serious complications, such as infertility or even cancer, but also many other comorbidities, such as diabetes, dyslipidemia and cardiac artery disease. It may also have influence over the secretion of thyroid hormones.

Material and method: As methods, we conducted a search in international databasis such as PubMed and Thompson ISI in order to identify which thyroid pathology is involved by or in intercorrelation with the PCOS and its implications, thus, laying the basis for a descriptive literature review. We used in our research the following keywords: „thyroid function”, polycystic ovary syndrome”, selecting only up-dated English articles.

Results: Regarding the fact that there is an increase of endocrine pathology, the intercorelation between PCOS and autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimotoʽs thyroiditis) has become more acknowledged in literature as sharing a dual path. The way they interconnect has not yet been sufficiently elucidated, but both pathologies have similar common features and elements that link one another very closely. Also, women with PCOS are more likely to have subclinical hypothyroidism than controls, suggesting that PCOS might be a risk factor for subclinical hypothyroidism. There are only a few studies in the current literature that discuss the association between Graves' disease and PCOS, many of them being only case reports. But these allow the hypothesis that there may be an etiopathogenetic link between these two pathologies.

Conclusion: Thyroid dysfunctions, in the form of autoimmune thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, or Graves' disease, are relatively frequently diagnosed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and for this reason, it is recommended that these patients should undergo a screening of thyroid function, which consists of determining the titer of thyroid hormones, specific serum thyroid autoantibodies and a thyroid ultrasound.