The corelation between the endometrial thickness and insulin resistance in postmenopausal obese women

R. D. Miulescu, S. Dănoiu, M. Muşat, D. Margină, C. Poiană

Abstract: To estimate the significance of insulin, estrogens and central obesity on the endometrial thickness measured by ultrasound in postmenopausal obese women. 14 postmenopausal insulin-resistant obese women and 11 postmenopausal noninsulin-resistant obese women were involved in this study. The anthropometric measurements included waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI). Estimates of insulin resistance were derived from the HOMA index (basal glucose mmol/l x basal insulin μIU/ml/22.5); insulinresistant women were defined by HOMA >3. Blood samples were drawn the morning after an overnight fast. Real-time ultrasonography was done with a 5 MHz vaginal transducer. Endometrial thickness measurements ranged from 5 to 20 mm (median value 6.00 mm) in insulin-resistant obese women and 4 to 8 mm (median value 4.00 mm) in noninsulin- resistant obese women. The frequency of endometrial thickness over 5.0 mm was 78.57% in insulin- resistant obese women and 36.36% in noninsulin - resistant obese women. In postmenopausal women central obesity, high endogenous estrogen levels and insulin resistance were associated with increased endometrial thickness, a risk indicator of uterine (endometrial) cancer.
Keywords: endometrial thickness, postmenopausal women, insulin resistance