Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is recognized as the most common endocrine disorder of reproductive-aged women around the world [1]. It affects 2% to 7% of women in the general population [2]. The pathogenesis underlying these clinical features is poorly understood. Gonadotropic dysregulation, genetics, and environmental factors have been implicated [3].

The diagnostic criteria for PCOS continue to evolve, but the 2003 Rotterdam consensus criteria remain widely used. These criteria require at least 2 of the following findings for diagnosis; oligoanovulation, polycystic ovaries on transvaginal ultrasonography, and clinical signs or biochemical evidence of hyperandrogenism [4].

Patients with PCOS are frequently first seen by a dermatologist. It is estimated that 72% to 82% of women with PCOS are seen with cutaneous signs classically associated with hyperandrogenism such as acne, hirsutism, and androgenic alopecia [5]. Hyperandrogenism may also manifest as acanthosis nigricans [6].

Hirsutism is the most common clinical manifestation of hyperandrogenism in women [7]. Approximately 60% to 70% of women with PCOS have hirsutism [8]. Hirsutism is defined as excessive terminal hair growth that takes on a male pattern distribution [9]. The hair type present in most women with a hormonal hyperandrogenic disorder is coarse, thickened, pigmented, and long and is called terminal hair. Typically, the onset of hirsutism in PCOS follows menarche, although a minority of premenarche girls have earlier onset of pubic hair development and some degree of hirsutism. The hirsutism in PCOS is more pronounced. The presence of substantial numbers of terminal hairs over the chin, neck, lower face, and sideburns indicates the presence of androgen excess. Similarly, excessive hair growth on the lower back, sternum, abdomen, shoulders, buttocks, perineal area, and inner thighs is considered abnormal. Several clinical assessment scales have been used in the grading of hirsutism [10].

During adolescence, acne should not be considered a substitute of hyperandrogenism [5], although girls with severe acne or acne that is resistant to oral and topical agents, including isotretinoin, may have a 40% likelihood of developing PCOS [11]. About one third of women with PCOS, particularly younger women, demonstrate acne [12]. When acne persists after adolescence or is exacerbated in the mid-20s or -30s, hyperandrogenemia is common, and acne may be considered a clinical sign of hyperandrogenism. Those presenting with acne alone may have serum free T levels as high as those seen in hyperandrogenic disease states, demonstrating hirsutism without acne [13].

Alopecia in females may present as diffuse pattern of thinning hair over the vertex of the scalp with the frontal hair line commonly preserved. It is a poor predictor of biochemical hyperandrogenemia, and low serum iron levels and aging are more common causes of hair loss in women [14]. In the setting of androgen excess, androgen-sensitive hair follicles shorten during the anagen phase, resulting in miniaturization of the scalp hair, less scalp coverage, and alopecia. The pattern of hair loss in women with hyperandrogenism is variable. For example, although hair loss patterns in women with hyperandrogenemia typically involve the vertex, crown, or a diffuse pattern, women with more severe hyperandrogenemia may experience bitemporal hair loss and loss of the frontal hairline [15]. While the actual prevalence of alopecia in women with PCOS is relatively low compared with other androgenic symptoms (approximately 5%), an association with polycystic ovaries has been reported [16].

Acanthosis nigricans is characterized by brown and velvety hyperpigmentation of the skin with accentuation on skin folds. It is most commonly observed in the neck and intertriginous areas, such as armpits, groins and inframammary region. It is reported in 5% of the patients with PCOS [17]. Excessive binding of serum insulin to IGF-1 receptors in peripheral tissues determines the proliferation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts; hence, acanthosis nigricans is a cutaneous manifestation of hyperinsulinemia, and not just of obesity. Despite being mostly associated with obesity, PCOS and diabetes, acanthosis nigricans may be associated with genetic diseases, drug reaction (nicotinic acid) and malignancies [6].

PCOS shows reproductive and metabolic complications that must be diagnosed and treated early due to the risk of infertility, endometrial cancer and plurimetabolic syndrome. Besides these complications, PCOS is associated with high morbidity due to aesthetic aspects that negatively affect women’s self esteem. Knowledge about the physiopathologic mechanisms of this syndrome is very important for an appropriate therapeutic approach [18].

Early detection of PCOS cases could be aided by picking up cutaneous lesions that are specifically associated with PCOS. In addition, many skin manifestations were regarded clinically suspicious as to diagnose PCOS such as acne, hirsutism, androgenic alopecia, acanthosis nigricans and seborrheic dermatitis. However some of these skin lesions are present in female patients who have not been diagnosed as having PCOS. The aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence of cutaneous disorders of PCOS and indicate the specific cutaneous lesions that have reliable association with PCOS. These could be used as a specific marker for early diagnosis of highly suspect patients with PCOS.

The present study included (134) female patients that were diagnosed as having polycystic ovary syndrome. They were selected from patients attending dermatology and infertility outpatient clinics at Ain Shams University hospitals over a period of 9 months between May 2016 and February 2017.

An informed verbal consent was obtained for study participation and specimen collection according to Ain Shams University Hospitals ethics committee.

Inclusion criteria:

· Patients at childbearing period (18 to 35 years).

· Participants were diagnosed of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) according to Rotterdam criteria (Rotterdam consensus workshop, 2004) where at least two of the following criteria should be present to establish the diagnosis of polycystic ovaries.

a) Oligoovulation and/or anovulation (no symptoms of ovulation).

b) Excess androgen activity:

· Clinical hyperandrogenism is the second defining characteristic of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This is manifested clinically by hirsutism, acne, and male pattern balding. In rare instances, increased muscle mass, deepening of the voice, or clitoromegaly may occur [19].

· Biochemically: In women who present with hyperandrogenic symptoms, we measure serum total testosterone concentrations because it provides the best overall estimate of androgen production in hirsute women [20]. The criteria of biochemical hyperandrogenemia were total testosterone (T) > 0.68 ng/mL [21].

a) Polycystic ovaries (by gynecologic ultrasound) the presence of more than 12 follicles with diameter 2 - 9 mm arranged peripherally or scattered around a dense stroma.

Exclusion Criteria:

· Other endocrinopathies, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (21-hydroxylase deficiency), Cushing's syndrome, hyperprolactinemia, androgen-secreting neoplasms, and other pituitary or adrenal disorders.

· Major medical disorders and/or use of hormonal and/or metabolic drugs within the previous 2 months.

· Women presented with ovarian pathology (cysts, tumors, etc.).

The study included 134 female participants had met the criteria to be diagnosed as PCOS, the range of age was 18 - 35 years, with a mean (26.31 ± 4.47 years). The number of patients with oligomenorrhea was 107 (80.6%) and with PCOS ultrasound findings were 127 (94.8%). The range of LH/FSH ratio of the studied cases was 0.28 - 5.68 mIU/L with a mean (1.76 ± 0.94 mIU/L) and range of total testosterone was 0.1 - 9.5 with a mean (1.44 ± 1.59 ng/ml). Among the study sample 32.1% of patients had high mean LH/FSH ratio (equal or more than 2) and 35% of patients had elevated total testosterone levels.

All participants of the study meeting criteria of PCOS had at least one dermatological findings. Cutaneous disorders that were detected included hirsutism, acne, acanthosis nigricans, androgenic alopecia and seborrheic dermatitis (Table 1). Among the PCOS patients at least one cutaneous disorder was found in 18 patients (13.4%), two cutaneous disorders in 44 patients (32.8%), three cutaneous disorders in 47 patients (35.1%), four cutaneous disorders in 24(17.9%) and five cutaneous disorders were found in only one patient (0.7%).

1) Hirsutism: Women among study group cases had different severity scores ranging from 8 - 28 with mean (17.22 ± 5.66). Statistically, there was a significant positive correlations between hirsutism and LH/F.S.H ratio(r = 0.933, p < 0.001), hirsutism and total testosterone level (r = 0.209, p = 0.019) (Figure 1 & Figure 2).

2) Acne was found in 66 (49.2%). Acne grade among PCOS patients were, mild in 19 (14.2%) patients, moderate in 18 (13.4%) patients and severe in 29 (21.6%).

Statistically, there was a significant positive correlations between acne and LH/F.S.H ratio (r = 0.91, p < 0.001) and total tetesterone level (r = 0.724, p < 0.001) (Figure 3 and Figure 4).

Correlation between severity of Acne and Hirsutism

Statistically, there was a significant correlation between severity of acne and hirsutism (r = 0.941, p value < 0.001) (Figure 5).

3) Acanthosis nigricans

Acanthosis nigricans was present in 72 (53.7%). Statistically, there was a significant difference between patients with and without acanthosis nigricans regarding LH/F.S.H ratio and total testosterone level (p < 0.001) (Table 2).

4) Androgenetic alopecia:

Androgenetic alopecia was found in 48 (35.8%). Statistically, there was non-significant difference between patients with and without androgentic alopecia regarding LH/F.S.H ratio and total testosterone level (p > 0.5) (Table 3).

5) Seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis was found in 37 (27.6%). Statistically, there was non-significant difference between patients with and without seborrheic dermatitis regarding LH/F.S.H ratio and total testosterone level (p > 0.5) (Table 4).

*Mann Whitney test.

*Mann Whitney test.

*Mann Whitney test.

Stein and Leventhal [1] recognized an association between the presence of bilateral polycystic ovaries and signs of amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, hirsutism and obesity. These manifestations represented the criteria of what is known as Stein Leventhal syndrome [1].

Androgen excess is the main pathology in PCOS. Metabolic abnormalities, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism, type II diabetes mellitus, endometrial carcinoma, dyslipidemia and psychosocial dysfunction are presented also by PCOS patients [20].

Polycystic ovarian syndrome being one of the most frequent endocrine disorders in the reproductive aged women, is a syndrome of ovarian dysfunction [27]. It is an important cause of both menstrual irregularity and androgen excess in women. When fully expressed, its manifestations include irregular menstrual cycles together with hirsutism and/or acne. Obesity is a frequent concomitant finding [28].

The diagnosis of PCOS is based on a combination of clinical, biological, and ultrasound criteria that have been used variably to define PCOS. Nevertheless, there are no specific or conclusive markers to diagnose this syndrome. Diagnostic criteria and PCOS definitions used by clinicians and researchers are almost as heterogeneous as the syndrome [29].

It was evident that the main pathology in PCOS is androgen excess, however, it was clearly denoted that a proportion of patients with PCOS might not demonstrate overt abnormality in circulating androgens [30]. Excess androgen production by ovary and occasionally by adrenal glands is responsible for the cutaneous changes such as acne, seborrhea, androgenic alopecia and hirsutism [31].

Elevated levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and subsequent influences on the thecal compartment of the ovary may play an additional role in the establishment of clinically apparent hyper androgenism. Androgen suppression following the diagnosis of hyperandrogenism is the mainstay of treatment in patients with PCOS [32].

It has been reported that women that met the PCOS criteria had a higher prevalence of skin findings. Acne, hirsutism and acanthosis nigricans were the most commonly reported skin disorders [33].

The aim of the current study was to define and specify the prevalence of cutaneous disorders of PCOS and indicate the cutaneous lesions that have reliable association with PCOS. These cutaneous disorders can be used as a specific marker to early diagnose or highly suspect patients with PCOS.

The present study included (134) female patients that were diagnosed as having polycystic ovary syndrome according to Rotterdam criteria. All patients were exposed to comprehensive skin examination and transvaginal or abdominal ultrasonography.

Our results showed that the LH: FSH ratio was observed to be more than 2 in 32.1% of patients, which agree with other data in literature where there was a significant high LH/FSH ratio in 27.5% PCOS women [34] [35]. Excessive LH secretion relative to FSH by the pituitary gland was the first laboratory abnormality identified in classic PCOS. It is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of PCOS by increasing androgen production and secretion by ovarian theca cells with subsequent appearance of clinical signs of hyperandrogenism [36].

The total testosterone levels in the current study were observed to be more than 0.68 ng/ml, which indicates biochemical hyperandrogenemia in 35% of patients. This finding agrees with previous reports who found a significant total testosterone elevation in PCOS women [34] [37]. Liou et al. [38] reported that 46% of women with PCOS had elevated total testosterone levels, while Ramanand et al. [39] found testosterone levels to be normal or low in all of their patients which might be explained by testing a small sample size (50 subjects).

The oligomenorrhea was observed in (81%) patients which agree with previous reports that indicated oligomenorrhea as the most common presenting symptom in 99.3% PCOS women [37]. The ultrasound findings were observed in (95%) of patients which agreed with Pichai et al. [37] who found ultrasonographic features of polycystic ovary in 81.4% of participants in PCOS women. This denotes that patients of the current study fulfill the required diagnostic criteria of Rotterdam which are essential for the diagnosis of PCOS.

The current study showed the presence of at least one skin finding in every patient. There was also a very high prevalence of hirsutism among PCOS patients (93%; 125/134). Such finding is in good agreement with previous studies that have reported high prevalence of hirsutism in PCOS women estimating 28% [38], 62.5% [35] and 58.1% [40], which further supports that hirsutism is the most common skin manifestation in PCOS [33]. The higher prevalence found in our finding might be attributed to the fact that all our patients were evaluated after properly diagnosed to have PCOS. Thus, hirsutism might be considered as a cutaneous marker in PCOS patients.

Examination and scoring of hirsutism revealed score ranging from 8 - 28 denoting a profound hyperandrogenic state in our PCOS patients, that was demonstrated in positive correlation between hirsutism versus both LH/F.S.H ratio and total testosterone level (p < 0.05). These findings are consistent with those of Vural et al. [32], Mardanian and Heidari [41] that indicated a positive correlation of high hirsute Ferriman Gallwey scores with LH/ FSH ratio and total testosterone serum levels.

Our finding of positive correlation between hirsutism and hormonal abnormalities (increased LH/FSH ratio and total testosterone) upholds and further indicates that hirsutism is an important indication for a reproductive and metabolic workup in suspected cases of PCOS.

The current study showed prevelance of acne among PCOS patients (49.2%; 66/134). Such finding is in good agreement with previous studies that have reported high prevelance of acne in PCOS women estimating 48% [38], 67.5% [35], 95% [42], 56.6% [37] and 61.8% [40].

Examination and scoring of acne revealed a high severity score denoting a profound hyperandrogenic state in our PCOS patients. This was demonstrated also in the positive correlation between acne versus both LH/F.S.H ratio and total testosterone level (p < 0.05). These findings are consistent with those of Jayaram et al. [43] who reported a positive correlation between acne versus both high LH and total testosterone levels. On the contrary Hong et al. [42] noticed that acne grade and number of acne lesions were not significantly different between the hyperandrogenic and nonhyperandrogenic group. This clarified that although androgen is definitely a critical hormone that elicits and aggravates acne through excessive sebum production, yet the serum androgen levels might not be directly proportional to local androgen levels near the pilosebaceous unit, perhaps explaining why most patients with acne have normal androgen levels. Acne commonly results from the local effects of increased androgen receptor sensitivity within the pilosebaceous unit.

Schmidt et al. [2] however observed that acne was a common manifestation of PCOS patients but it was not reliable for PCOS because among women with PCOS, acne when present was not associated with metabolic dysregulation or increased serum androgens and suggesting that the acne-androgen association is a complex one.

Our finding of positive correlation between acne and hormonal abnormalities (increased LH/FSH ratio and total testosterone) might indicate that acne is a potential indication for a reproductive and metabolic workup in suspected cases of PCOS. Thus, acne might be considered as a cutaneous marker in PCOS patients.

The current study showed prevalence of acanthosis nigricans in (53.7%; 72/134) of PCOS patients, such finding is in good agreement with previous studies that have reported high prevalence of acanthosis nigricans in PCOS women estimating 44.16% [39], 22.5% [35] and 15.8% [40]. The high prevelence in our finding might be attributed to the fact that all our patients were evaluated after properly diagnosed to have PCOS. Thus, AN might be considered as a cutaneous marker in PCOS patients. Cruz et al. [44] explained that the proliferation of keratinocytes is caused by hyperinsulinaemia and increased binding of excessive serum insulin to IGF-1 receptors in the peripheral tissues because insulin resistance is often observed in PCOS, So acanthosis nigricans might be a common cutaneous manifestation in PCOS.

Our results showed that there was a significant difference between patients with and without acanthosis nigricans regarding LH/FSH ratio and total testosterone level (p < 0.001) which may be explained by the association of AN with hyperinsulinemia, that can promote ovarian thecal androgen secretion and inhibiting hepatic synthesis of sex hormone-binding globulin [45].

The current study showed prevalence of androgenic alopecia in (35.8%; 48/134) of PCOS patients, such finding is in good agreement with previous studies that have reported comparable percentage of prevalence of androgenic alopecia in PCOS women (30%) Gowri et al. [35] and (23%) Feng et al. [40]. Hong et al. [42] have shown that the proportion of PCOS patients who had androgenetic alopecia was 12.5% which was slightly higher than that reported from western populations. This discrepancy can be driven from the ethnic differences and the difficulty of a definitive diagnosis.

Our results also showed that there was no significant difference between patients with and without androgenetic alopecia regarding LH/F.S.H ratio and total testosterone level (p > 0.5). Schmidt et al. [2] and Feng et al. [40] have reported no statistically significant relationship between hyperandrogenism and central hair loss pattern. In contrast, [35] reported that androgenetic alopecia was associated with an elevated LH level in 15% of patients. This difference might be attributed to the difference in sample size (40 patients versus 134 in our study). Our data support previous observations that AGA in PCOS is more tightly associated with clinical hyperandrogenism but not biochemical hyperandrogenism. This may be due to the ethnic differences in the number of hair follicles present and individual skin sensitivity of the pilosebaceous unit to androgens.

According to Schmidt and Shinkai [33]: acne, hirsutism, and AN were the most common skin manifestations, while hirsutism and AN were the most informative for PCOS diagnosis. The current study showed that hirsutism, acne and AN are also the most common and reliable skin manifestations for PCOS. These cutaneous manifestations commonly associated with PCOS due to the positive correlation found between these cutaneous disorders and the hormonal abnormalities (increased LH/FSH ratio and total testosterone) usually existing in PCOS.

Seborrheic dermatitis was seen in 27.6% of patients. Schmidt and Shinkai [33] observed seborrheic dermatitis in 30.4% of patients and Feng et al. [40] found it in 38.2% of their patients. Our results showed that, there was a non-significant difference between patients with and without seborrheic dermatitis regarding LH/F.S.H ratio and total testosterone level (p > 0.5).

Seborrheic dermatitis in our PCOS patients was contradictory with other studies. Since our study had a small number of patients, this may be the reason for the inconsistent findings observed.

Findings in our study showed the possible association of hirsutism, acne, AN, AGA and seborrheic dermatitis with PCOS. These cutaneous manifestations could be relied upon as potential cutaneous indicator of PCOS. Using Rotterdam criteria women who met the criteria of PCOS had a higher prevalence of hirsutism, acne, AN, androgenic alopecia and seborrheic dermatitis. Our study demonstrated that the prevalence of cutaneous manifestations in PCOS shows a clinical spectrum ranging from one to multiple findings. Among the PCOS patients at least one cutaneous disorder was found in 18 patients (13.4%), two cutaneous disorders in 44 patients (32.8%), three cutaneous disorders in 47 patients (35.1%), four cutaneous disorders in 24 (17.9%) and five cutaneous disorders were found in only one patient (0.7%).

Authors are grateful for the women agreed and gave consent to be included in this study.

This study was not financially supported by any institutions or organizations.

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This study received approval by local institutional ethical committee of Ain Shams University Hospital and informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

All data are available transparently.

Mohammed Hussain Mostafa: The corresponding author and responsible for the idea of the study, data collection and analysis, intellectual content, writing and editing the manuscript and final revision before publication.

Nader Fouad Ragab, Ghada Fathy Mohammed: Dermatologic follow up the cases, data collection and revising the manuscript.

Written consent has been acquired from participants after explaining the study design.

All authors have revised and agreed to publication of the study.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Mostafa, M.H., Ragab, N.F. and Mohammed, G.F. (2020) Prevalence of Cutaneous Disorders in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10, 1246-1264. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojog.2020.1090116