The relationship between IL-18 and atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in Egyptian lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age. The evidence in support of low-grade inflammation in PCOS as an etiology is emerging. Inflammation is likely to be associated with other prominent aspects of PCOS including insulin resistance (IR) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is considered as a strong marker of inflammation.

Objectives: Evaluation of the relation between serum IL-18 and atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk in Egyptian lean females with PCO.

Methods: This study included control group of healthy lean normally menstruating females, lean PCOS group (BMI < 25 kg/m²), and obese PCOS group (BMI > 25 kg/m²) presented with infertility and diagnosed according to Rotterdam criteria. Measurements of serum lipid profile, IR, and IL-18 were done.

Results: Lipid accumulation product (LAP), IR and ASCVD risk were significantly higher in PCOS patients (lean and obese) compared to controls and in obese compared to lean. Serum IL-18 was significantly higher in the PCOV groups compared to the controls and correlated directly with LAP, IR and ASCVD risk.

Conclusion: IL-18 is elevated in PCOS patients even in lean ones and is correlated with IR and ASCVD risk.

Chinese abstract

背景：多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）是育龄期女性最常见的内分泌紊乱疾病。支持PCOS低度炎症反应作为病因的证据逐渐出现。炎症很可能与PCOS的其他突出特征有关, 包括胰岛素抵抗（IR）和心血管疾病（CVD）风险。白介素-18（IL-18）被认为是炎症的有力标志物。

目的：评估埃及卵巢多囊样改变瘦型女性中血清IL-18和动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病（ASCVD）风险的关系。

方法：本研究包括健康瘦型月经正常女性作为对照组, 瘦型PCOS组（BMI <25 kg/m²）, 肥胖型PCOS组（BMI >25 kg/m²）, PCOS根据鹿特丹标准诊断且表现为不孕。检测他们的血脂水平、IR、IL-18。

结果：与对照组相比, PCOS患者（瘦型和肥胖型）脂肪堆积产物（LAP）, IR和ASCVD风险显著升高, 肥胖型PCOS高于瘦型PCOS患者。PCOS组血清IL-18显著高于对照组, 且与LAP、IR和ASCVD风险呈正相关。

结论：PCOS患者甚至瘦型PCOS患者中IL-18升高, 且与IR和ASCVD风险相关。

Keywords:

• Polycystic ovary
• interleukin-18
• cardiovascular disease risk

Disclosure statement

All authors do not have any conflicts of interest.