title: Relationship between IL-17 serum level and ambulatory blood pressure in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders with an inflammatory basis. It is associated with hyperandrogenism in women and can be also associated with increased activity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Approximately 5% to 10% of women of reproductive age are affected by this disease. This syndrome is the main cause of infertility. Blood pressure may be one of the complications of the syndrome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we sought to assess the role of the IL-17 inflammatory cytokine in increasing blood pressure in patients with PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, after obtaining informed consent, we evaluated 85 patients with PCOS. IL-17 serum level was measured after separating the serum via ELISA method. The results obtained for the two groups of patients with high blood pressure and normal blood pressure were compared with each other.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The daytime blood pressure was abnormal in eight patients, while it was normal in 72 patients. The blood pressure during the day had a direct correlation with the IL-17serum level; as a result, the mean IL-17 serum level in patients with high blood pressure was 77.10 ± 17.94 ρ g/ml while in those with normal blood pressure it was 55.20 ± 13.71 ρ g/ml (P= 0.001). High blood pressure during the night also showed a direct relation with theIL-17 serum level (P= 0.001). In addition, increasing of ambulatory 24-hourblood pressure was significantly related with IL-17 serum level, in such a way that the IL-17 serum level of people with high blood pressure rose by almost 22 ρg/ml during 24 hours (P= 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed an association between PCO syndrome and inflammatory factors. The IL-17 serum level was directly associated with the increase in blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Foroozanfard
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soleimani
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arbab
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mansooreh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tamadon
keywords: IL-17; Inflammatory factors; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Renin-angiotensin system