RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AND CAROTID ARTERY INTIMA MEDIA THICKNESS IN POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME PATIENTS

Objective: To determine relationship between CRP (C-reactive protein) concentration and CIMT (carotid artery intima media thickness) in young PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) females. Design: Cross-sectional Setting: Infertility outpatient clinic Patients: 70 PCOS patients (20-39 years old) and 70 healthy subjects as control. Interventions: CIMT was measured by Doppler ultrasound. Main outcome measure: Relationship between increased CRP level and CIMT. Results: Mean (+/- SD) serum CRP level was higher in PCOS patents (5.2 +/- 2.8 mg/dL) in comparison to controls (4.9 +/- 1.7 mg/dL), but the difference was not statistically significant (P= 0.482). However, mean (+/- SD) CIMT was significantly higher in PCOS group (0.65 +/- 0.11 mm) compared to controls (0.59 +/- 0.21 mm); P= 0.016. Although with increased CRP level, CIMT increased in PCOS patients, the relationship was not statistically significant (P= 0.065, r= 0.886). Also there was a relationship between age and CIMT but it was not statistically significant (P= 0.07, r= 0.215). However, relationships between CIMT and BMI (P= 0.04, r= 0.571) and between CIMT and waist circumference (P= 0.028, r= 0.36) were statistically significant. Based on regression analysis serum CRP level (P= 0.055, 95% CI= 1.589-73.713) and BMI (P= 0.051, 95% CI= 1.379-2.412) were independent variables which affected CIMT. Conclusion: CRP was elevated in PCOS patients compared to controls, but the difference was not statistically significant. Therefore, measuring CRP in PCOS patients should be interpreted with keeping in mind other CVD risk factors in these patients such as fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, and most importantly BMI.