Cardiovascular risk in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
OBJECTIVE
Studies have suggested that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to examine cardiovascular risk profiles in women with PCOS compared with healthy age and weight matched control subjects using novel biochemical and biophysical markers.


METHODS
After ethics committee approval, 11 women with PCOS and 12 controls were recruited (mean age, 32; SD, 6.5 years; mean body mass index (BMI), 33.1; SD, 5.9 kg/m2). Serum was analysed for lipid and lipoprotein profile (total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B-100, apolipoprotein A1, lipoprotein (a)), and sialic acid, fibrinogen, homocysteine, and C reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. Endothelial function was also assessed by a standard venous occlusion plethysmography technique to measure reactive hyperaemic forearm blood flow (RH), and expressed as per cent increase from baseline.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in glucose, lipid, or lipoprotein concentrations between the two groups. Furthermore, sialic acid (PCOS: mean, 70.5; SD, 149 mg/litre; controls: mean, 71.3; SD, 112 mg/litre), fibrinogen (PCOS: mean, 3.1; SD, 1.0 g/litre; controls: mean, 3.3; SD, 0.7 g/litre), CRP (PCOS: mean, 4.6; SD, 4.2 mg/litre; controls: mean, 5.41 SD, 5.5 mg/litre), and RH (PCOS: mean, 158.7; SD, 135.5%; controls: mean, 200.1; SD, 114.2%) were similar.


CONCLUSIONS
There were no differences in surrogate markers of the processes linked to enhanced cardiovascular risk between patients with PCOS and weight matched controls.
Bickerton
A S T
AS
Academic Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3LY, UK. alex.bickerton@oxlip.ox.ac.uk
Clark
N
N
Meeking
D
D
Shaw
K M
KM
Crook
M
M
Lumb
P
P
Turner
C
C
Cummings
M H
MH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids