Need to Introduce the Finding of Obesity or Normal Body Weight in the Current Diagnostic Criteria and in the Classification of PCOS

The diagnosis of PCOS is based on the Rotterdam guidelines: chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism (biologic or clinical) and polycystic ovaries on ultrasound. Two of these three criteria are sufficient for making diagnosis of PCOS. However, one characteristic that is often associated to PCOS (obesity with severe insulin resistance and metabolic alteration regarding glucose metabolism and lipid pattern) has remained out of the current classification of PCOS. Because of this, patients with different metabolic and cardiovascular risk may be included in the same phenotype, and it makes more difficult to establish clear strategies of follow-up and treatment of the patients with increased risks, and also may hide genetic or environmental differences between PCOS patients. Our recent study has shown that metabolic alterations are linked to the weight and not to the Rotterdam phenotypes. Because of this, we suggest a new classification of PCOS phenotypes that divides each Rotterdam phenotype in obese (ob) or lean (l) sub-phenotype. An improved classification of PCOS may be essential for permitting new progress in our understanding of pathogenesis and treatment of PCOS (or of the different disorders that are part of PCOS).

Automated summary

The diagnosis of PCOS is based on the Rotterdam guidelines, but the current classification does not include obesity and metabolic changes. This makes it challenging to establish clear strategies for follow-up and treatment of high-risk patients and may hide genetic or environmental differences between PCOS patients. A new classification is suggested which divides each Rotterdam phenotype into obese or lean sub-phenotypes, aiming to improve our understanding and treatment of PCOS.