Low-grade chronic inflammation is not accompanied by structural arterial injury in polycystic ovary syndrome

To evaluate the presence of premature subclinical atherosclerosis, measured by examining carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and to investigate whether the IMT may be linked to low-grade chronic inflammation, assessed by C-reactive protein (CRP), in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Fifty seven PCOS patients and 37 similarly aged and weight controls underwent B-mode ultrasonography of the carotid arteries for IMT measure. All these women were also screened for CRP and metabolic parameters including fasting insulin, glucose, lipid and androgen levels. Differences between means were analyzed by Student's unpaired t-test and analysis of correlations between parameters was performed by using Pearson's correlation.

CRP was significantly higher in PCOS patients than in controls (3.1mg/dL vs. 1.4mg/dL; p=0.004). No difference was noted in IMT mean between PCOS cases and controls (0.52mm vs. 0.53mm; p=0.35). IMT did not correlate with CRP but exhibited a significant positive correlation with total testosterone (r=0.72, p=0.01).

This study suggests that PCOS itself is not associated with structural arterial injury, carotid IMT is not linked to low-grade chronic inflammation and hyperandrogenism may be associated with subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk in young women with PCOS. Additional research is needed to clarify these findings.