Is interleukin-18 associated with polycystic ovary syndrome?
BACKGROUND
Recent research show that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may have an association with low-grade chronic inflammation, IL-18 is considered as a strong risk marker of inflammation.


METHODS
To investigate serum IL-18 concentrations in PCOS patients and focus on its relationship between obesity and insulin resistance (IR). Sixty consecutive women with PCOS and thirty controls were recruited. Serum level of IL-18 and fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) were measured.


RESULTS
Serum levels of IL-18 was significantly higher in the PCOS group than in the control group. Serum level of IL-18 was higher in the PCOS group with IR than in the PCOS group without IR. Serum level of IL-18 was higher in obese PCOS patients than in lean PCOS patients. Serum level of IL-18 was higher in lean PCOS patients than in the lean control group. Serum level of IL-18 in the PCOS group was positively related to BMI, IR index and T.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-18 level was increased in PCOS patients, and correlated with insulin resistance, obesity and hyperandrogenism.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. sofoa@sina.com
Yan
Y
Yang
Jie
J
Qiao
Rong
R
Li
Mei-Zhi
MZ
Li
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D007328:Insulin; D020382:Interleukin-18; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
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