Procalcitonin as a Mediator of Chronic Inflammation in ObeseWomen with PCOS    

 Nadia Mudher Al-Hilli and Haydar Hashim Al-ShalahCollege of Medicine, University of Babylon, Hilla, Iraq.   

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common reproductive endocrine conditioncharacterized by hyperandrogenism, chronic anovulation, and obesity. Obesity is associated with a lowgradeinflammation of white adipose tissue resulting from chronic activation of the innate immunesystem and can subsequently lead to insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance and even diabetes.In the last few years, adipose tissue emerged as an important source of proinflammatory mediatorsincluding TNF- , IL-6, and procalcitonin.Objective: to investigate procalcitonin as a marker of chronic inflammation in obese women withPCOS.Method: a case control study conducted from January 2010 till July 2010. The study involved 20 women with PCOS and 20 control women matched for age and BMI. Waist to hip ratio was measuredand blood was drawn from patients and controls and serum levels of FSH, LH, prolactin, testosteroneand procalcitonin were estimated by VIDAS using VIDAS kits provided by Biomerieux (France).Student t test was used to evaluate the difference in serum procalcitonin level between the two groups.Results: compared with control group, patients with PCOS had a significantly higher waist to hip ratio(mean 0.95 ± 0.2 versus 0.8 ± 0.13). Serum procalcitonin level was significantly higher in women with PCOS compared to control group (1.43 ± 0.42 ng/mL Vs 0.19 ± 0.13 ng/mL) P value was < 0.0001. Serum levels of FSH, LH, prolactin and testosterone all were significantly higher in women with PCOS than in the control group (P value < 0.05).Conclusion: The increase in low-grade chronic inflammation in women with PCOS is primarilyassociated with increased central fat excess. Procalcitonin represents a novel marker of theinflammatory activity of body fat in PCOS.