C-reactive protein level and obesity as cardiovascular risk factors in polycystic ovary syndrome

• Main Authors: Eda Ülkü Uludağ, İlay Gözükara, Suna Kabil Kucur, Havva Keskin, Halime Kılıç, Zeynep Kamalak, Ayşe Kargılı, Şenay Arıkan Durmaz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dicle University Medical School 2013-09-01
• Series: Dicle Medical Journal
• Subjects: PCOS; CRP; obesity; cardiovascular risk
• Online Access: http://www.diclemedj.org/upload/sayi/28/Dicle%20Med%20J-01712.pdf

Objective: To investigate the role of C-reactive protein(CRP) level elevation and obesity for the increased cardiovasculardisease risk in polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods: A hundred and nine patients with PCOS and 30age matched healthy volunteers with regular menstrualcycle are involved in the study. PCOS group is furthersubdivided into three subgroups according to the bodymass index (BMI). Subgroups included 54 with BMI<25,22 with BMI 25-30, and 33 with BMI>30. Blood samplesfor glucose, insulin, uric acid, and CRP were collected inthe morning after overnight fasting (12 hours). Homeostasismodel assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)was calculated. Results: Fasting blood glucose, insulin,and HOMA-IR was significantly higher in PCOS group(p=0.02, p=0.01 and p=0.02). CRP level was higher insubgroup with BMI>30. High CRP level in PCOS wasfound to be independent from BMI (p<0.001). HOMA-IRand insulin level was higher in the subgroup with BMI>30.When compared with the control group high insulin levelwas the only to be statistically significant in obese PCOSpatients (p=0.005). HOMA-IR was higher in PCOS subgroupwith BMI>30 when compared with controls and thePCOS subgroup with BMI<25 (p<0.001, p= 0.003).Conclusion: Obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and high CRPlevels are seemed to be related and potentiating eachother in PCOS. Struggling with obesity is one of the mostimportant issues for preventive medicine.Key words: PCOS, CRP, obesity, cardiovascular risk