LEVELS OF SERUM NICKEL IN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME, ANALYSIS OF POSSIBLE SOURCES OF EXPOSURE AND MECHANISMS OF PATHOGENESIS

Abstract

The goal of the work. To determine the level of nickel exposure of women with polycysticovary syndrome (PCOS) and analyze the possible sources of exposure and pathogeneticmechanisms.Material and methods. The control group consisted of 38 women of reproductive agewho live in Kyiv, Ukraine. The second group consisted of 52 women who had beendiagnosed PCOS. In both groups of women, the determination of nickel in serum wasdone by the ICP MS method. The study of environmental pollution by nickel was carriedout by processing data published in open sources of information.Results. In women with PCOS, elevated levels of nickel were detected (median-0.036 mg/l, 95 percentile-0.194 mg/l), which significantly exceeded the control group (median-0.001 mg/l, 95 percentile-0.097 mg/l, p=0.0012). The study of possible sources of exposure showed that drinking and surface water could not be the cause of exposure tonickel. The lands used in agriculture are nickel-polluted. Controversial data on airpollution do not give possibility to make a clear conclusion. The work considerspathogenetic mechanisms of the possible influence of high concentrations of nickel onthe occurrence of PCOS.Conclusion. In women with PCOS high concentrations of nickel in serum were detected.There is a certain risk of nickel entering foods grown on contaminated lands. The elevated level of exposure to nickel has pathogenetic foundations for the occurrence ofPCOS.