Inflammatory markers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

To determine the levels of inflammatory and endothelial markers in relation to metabolic and hormonal profiles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A prospective case control study. One hundred Saudi women living in the Jeddah area were classified as follows: 50 with PCOS and 50 age-matched women without PCOS. Blood samples were collected from all women with or without PCOS between 8:00–11:00, after an overnight fast. The body mass index (BMI) (Kg/m2), serum levels of LH, FSH, TSH, FT4, 17-OHP, Δ4-A, DHEAs, total T, free T, SHBG, insulin, HDL-c, triglycerides and plasma levels of glucose were determined. Measures of insulin resistance (IR) including: fasting serum insulin, GIR and HOMA and measures of plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and high sensitivity C-reactive proteins (hsCRP) were also determined. Women with PCOS exhibited significantly higher levels of ET-1 (P<0.05), sICAMP-1 (P<0.05), sVCAM-1 (P<0.001) and hsCRP (P<0.001) as compared with age-matched controls, respectively. Positive correlations were evident between ET-1 and FAI (r = 0.41; P<0.01) but ET-1 negatively correlated with SHBG (r = −0.36; P<0.05). sVCAM-1 positively correlated with total T (r = 0.62; 0.001), hsCRP correlated with: BMI (r = 0.73; P<0.001), and HOMA (r = −0.39; P<0.05), respectively. Women with PCOS exhibited abnormal levels of endothelial and inflammatory markers, which appear to be inter-related to hyperandrogenaemia.