title: Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome have lower levels of IgM anti-phosphorylcholine antibodies than healthy women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  IgM antibodies against phosphorylcholine (IgM anti-PC) are natural autoantibodies, possibly exerting one of the atheroprotective functions of the immune system. Increased levels of these antibodies reduce the development of atherosclerosis in mice, and low levels of IgM anti-PC have been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study compared levels of IgM anti-PC in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS, n = 111) and healthy controls (n = 79).
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of IgM anti-PC were measured with ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median level of IgM anti-PC in patients with PCOS was not significantly different compared to control subjects. However, the proportion of patients with PCOS with low levels of IgM anti-PC, defined as number of individuals below the median level, was significantly higher than among healthy controls, p < 0.05. Patients with PCOS in the oldest age quintile had significantly lower level of IgM anti-PC than control subjects of similar age (p < 0.05) and younger women with PCOS (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that women with PCOS more frequently display below-median levels of IgM anti-PC than controls and older women with PCOS have lower median anti-PC levels. Further studies of how this finding translates into actual CVD risk in women with PCOS are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. malin.gingnell@kbh.uu.se
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gingnell
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dahlbom
authors.forename: Asa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hudecova
authors.forename: Ragnheidur
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arnadottir
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sundstrom-Poromaa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010767:Phosphorylcholine