Cardiovascular disease markers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome with emphasis on asymmetric dimethylarginine and homocysteine

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovaries. Little is known about cardiovascular risk factors in patients with PCOS. We investigated plasma markers of cardiovascular disease in Saudi women with PCOS, with an emphasis on asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and total homocysteine (tHcy).PATIENTS AND METHODS:Fifty Saudi women with PCOS diagnosed by the Rotterdam criteria (mean age [SD] 30.2 [3.0] years) and 40 controls without PCOS (mean age 29.3 [2.5] years) had measyrements taken of clinical, metabolic, and hormonal parameters, including plasma ADMA, tHcy, lipoprotein (a) ([Lp(a)], and serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), nitric oxid, and fibrinogen. Insulin resistance was calculated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR).RESULTS:Women with PCOS had significantly higher fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels than healthy controls (P<.001). Lipid profile, free androgen index (FAI), ADMA, tHcy, hsCRP, and Lp(a) were significantly higher in women with PCOS compared with healthy controls (P<.001). The women with PCOS had significantly lower nitric oxide and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels compared with healthy controls (P<.001).CONCLUSION:Our study revealed that Saudi women with PCOS had a significantly different levels of plasma markers of cardiovascular disease compared with normal controls. Therefore, clinicians who manage women with PCOS should follow up on these markers to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular Risk in Women With PCOS

“…Its plasma concentration was significantly higher in women with PCOS than in healthy control groups (67). The possible mechanism of elevation of ADMA in hyperhomocysteinemia includes a reduced renal excretion (68) and a decreased activity of the hydrolase enzyme, which metabolizes ADMA (69).…”

Serum myeloperoxidase and adenosine deaminase activities in polycystic ovary syndrome

“…High leukocyte count, an increase in inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines [3][4][5][6], and an association between these markers and atherosclerotic heart disease [7,8] have been shown in women with PCOS.…”

The plasma nitric oxide and homocysteine levels and their association with insulin resistance in South Indian women with polycystic ovary syndrome

“…Our findings are also consistent with those of Ahmed M. Mohamadin et al, Mine Yavuz Taslipnar et al and on the other hand, Nacul et al, Kuscu et al, Erdagon et al did not observe significant differences in terms of NO in their studies between PCOS patients and healthy controls. [17][18][19][20][21] However Karabulut AB et al showed increased NO levels in PCOS group when compared to healthy control. 22 In present study NO negatively correlated with insulin resistance.…”