Is the polycystic ovary syndrome the causative of the increase in inflammatory markers and metabolic risk?

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the relationship between the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β and the hormonal and metabolic alterations in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO).

Materials and methods: Case–control study. CRP, IL-6 and IL-1β were evaluated in combination with obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and hyperandrogenism parameters in 20 patients with PCO. Twenty healthy women were used as the control.

Results: The average CRP values was 5.1 in the cases vs. 0.8 mg/L in the control group (p < 0.0001). The IL-6 average values were 2.77 in the cases vs. 2.70 pg/ml in the control group (p = 0.254). IL-1β levels were found to be within the normal range in all individuals. A positive correlation was found between the CRP values and the IR (p < 0.0001) as well as with the presence of obesity (p < 0.02). No correlation was found between PCR and hyperandrogenemia (p = 0.4) nor between IL-6 values and IR (p = 0.3), or between the levels of this cytokine and the presence of hyperandrogenemia (p = 0.2). A significant correlation was found between IL-6 levels and obesity (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions: The present study demonstrates the presence of a chronic inflammation status in young women with PCO. These parameters are mainly related to obesity and, to a lesser extent, to IR.

Keywords::

• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• c-reactive protein-cytokines

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr Guillermo G. Nuñez for the assistance in the translation of this manuscript.

Declaration of Interest: This work was supported by grants from the University of Buenos Aires and CONICET (National Research Council of Argentina). The authors report no declarations of interest.