Relationship of inflammatory and metabolic parameters in adolescents with PCOS: BMI matched case-control study

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) begins in adolescence and has cardiovascular and metabolic components in later years. Cystatin C and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and neutrophil-lymphocyte and platelet-lymphocyte ratios are associated with metabolic and inflammatory events. Here, we evaluated inflammatory and metabolic parameters in normal and overweight adolescents with PCOS.

This prospective case-control study enrolled 90 adolescents with PCOS and 100 matched by age and BMI healthy adolescents classified as either normal weight (NW) and overweight (OW). Groups were compared based on inflammatory and metabolic parameters (serum cystatin C, hs-CRP, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lipids, fasting blood glucose-insulin (FBG-FI), HOMA-IR levels, waist circumference [WC], and waist-hip ratio [WHR]). The relationship between the parameters were compared and predictive abilities were evaluated.

Cystatin C, hs-CRP, NLR, triglyceride (TG), FBG-FI, HOMA-IR, WC, and WHR were significantly higher in those with PCOS. The NW PCOS group had significantly higher TG, cystatin C, hs-CRP, and NLR versus OW controls. The highest HOMA-IR values were observed in OW PCOS (p < .05). Cystatin C and hs-CRP sensitivity and specificity were significant (p < 0.05). Cystatin C and hs-CRP were positively correlated with other metabolic parameters.

Independent of BMI, inflammatory and metabolic parameters are significantly higher in adolescents with PCOS compared to controls and even worse in those who are also OW. Therefore, adolescents with PCOS should be encouraged to maintain healthy lifestyles and weights to avoid metabolic risks. Hs-CRP and cystatin C could be promising markers to predictive of future metabolic risks.