Are Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome at an Increased Risk of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and/or Preeclampsia?

Abstract

Objective: To study whether there is an increased risk of glucose intolerance and hypertensive complications during pregnancy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and if there is an adverse pregnancy outcome.

Methods: In a retrospective case-control study, pregnancies and neonatal outcome were compared in 33 women with PCOS and 66 women without PCOS. The women were treated at Huddinge University Hospital; antenatal care was given at associated outpatient units.

Main Outcome Measures: Blood glucose and blood pressure during the different trimesters. Pregnancy outcome in terms of gestational length, birth weight, and need for neonatal intensive care.

Results: No significant differences were found in blood glucose levels between the groups. There were also no differences in blood pressure during the first and second trimester. However, during the third trimester and labor, the PCOS group had a significantly higher blood pressure than the control group. Apart from a tendency toward reduced growth of twins in PCOS mothers, the babies were healthy, overall, with few problems in the neonatal period.

Conclusions: No major differences with regard to perinatal outcome in pregnant women with and without PCOS were found. An increased risk of hypertensive disorders in the third trimester and during labor was demonstrated in the PCOS group. This suggests that in the antenatal care of women with PCOS, attention should focus on blood pressure in order to reduce the risks of morbidity associated with hypertension.

Key Words:

• Hypertension and pregnancy
• Polycystic ovary syndrome