title: Serum C-reactive protein levels in normal-weight polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serum levels of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a vascular inflammatory marker, may predict the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes and CVD. The aim of this study was to compare hsCRP levels between normal weight women with PCOS and controls with a normal menstrual cycle and to determine the factors associated with serum hsCRP levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine lean PCOS patients and 24 healthy, regular cycling women were enrolled in this study. We performed anthropometric measurements, fat computed tomography (CT), and blood sampling to determine blood chemistry and levels of hsCRP, gonadotropins, testosterone, and sex-hormone binding globulin. We also conducted 75-g oral glucose-tolerance test and euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp to assess insulin sensitivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum hsCRP concentrations were higher in women with PCOS than in women with regular mensturation. However, this difference was no longer significant after adjusting for body mass index (BMI). hsCRP levels were correlated with waist circumference (r=0.46, p<0.01), BMI (r=0.46, p<0.01), visceral fat area (r=0.45, p<0.01), and systolic (r=0.42, p<0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.39, p<0.05). hsCRP also tended to be negatively associated with insulin-mediated glucose uptake (IMGU) (r=-0.31, p=0.07). A multiple regression analysis revealed that BMI (beta=0.29, p<0.05), systolic blood pressure (beta=0.39, p<0.01), and IMGU (beta=-0.31, p<0.05) predicted serum hsCRP levels in women with PCOS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCOS by itself does not seem to be associated with increased hsCRP levels, whereas known CVD risk factors affect serum hsCRP levels in PCOS.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ji Young
authors: JY
authors: Oh
authors: Ji-Ah
authors: JA
authors: Lee
authors: Hyejin
authors: H
authors: Lee
authors: Jee-Young
authors: JY
authors: Oh
authors: Yeon-Ah
authors: YA
authors: Sung
authors: Hyewon
authors: H
authors: Chung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein