title: Increased serum C-reactive protein levels in normal weight women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical spectrum of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) includes components of the metabolic syndrome, such as central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension and, even, disturbances of the clotting mechanism. All these disorders are epidemiologically related to cardiovascular disease, most probably through low-grade intravascular chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum concentrations of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a non-specific marker of low-grade inflammation and a predictive marker for cardiovascular disease, in normal weight women with (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eighty-eight (188) normal weight [body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m(2)] women with PCOS were included in the study. Forty-three (43) normal weight women without PCOS (normal ovulation without clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenemia) served as controls. Serum samples for luteinizing hormone, folliclestimulating hormone, prolactin, total testosterone, Δ4-androstenedione, 17α-hydroxy-progesterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), insulin, glucose and hsCRP were collected in early follicular phase (third to sixth day) of a menstrual cycle in the control group or during a spontaneous bleeding episode in the PCOS group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normal weight women with PCOS had higher concentrations of serum hsCRP as compared to normal weight women without PCOS (mean ± standard error of the mean 0.55 ± 0.08 versus 0.27 ± 0.08 mg/dL, p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As normal weight women with PCOS are characterized by elevated serum concentrations of hsCRP, they have to be considered as carrying at least one marker of low-grade inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology and Human Reproduction, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makedos
authors.affiliation: Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle Universityof Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Goulis
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arvanitidou
authors.affiliation: Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle Universityof Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mintziori
authors.affiliation: Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle Universityof Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.affiliation: Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology and Human Reproduction, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makedou
authors.affiliation: Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology and Human Reproduction, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panidis
keywords: cardiovascular disease; high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; inflammation; polycycstic ovary syndrome