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-1ß and the hormonal and metabolic alterations in women with polycystic ovary sindrome (PCO). Materials and Methods: Case-control study. CRP, IL-6 and IL-1beta 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 control group (P minor 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-1beta 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 minor 0.0001) as well as with the presence of obesity (P minor 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 minor 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 insulin resistance.