Polymorphisms of BMP-4 gene and its relationship with hirsutism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a complex endocrine disease characterized by hyperandrogenism and anovulation. Hirsutism, which is, the excessive facial and body hair caused by excessive androgen action in women, is one of the most prevalent signs of hyperandrogenism. It is a clinical problem of great importance but its pathophysiology is largely elusive. Bone Morphogenetic Proteins belong to the TGF Beta superfamily and is known to modulate a wide series of biological processes such as development and reprocution. Recently,BMP family, especially BMP-4 and BMP-2, has been implicated in the physiology of the hair, and are thought to coordenate the growth phase. In this project, we proposed to evaluate the epidemiology of hirsutism at the Division of Hyperandrogenism of the Discipline of Gynecology, to study two polymosphism of BMP-4 gene of PCOS subjects and to compared the data with women without the syndrome.