Is the polycystic ovary syndrome the causative of the increase in inflammatory markers and metabolic risk?

AIMS

To investigate the relationship between the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β and the hormonal and metabolic alterations in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Case-control study. CRP, IL-6 and IL-1β were evaluated in combination with obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and hyperandrogenism parameters in 20 patients with PCO. Twenty healthy women were used as the control.

RESULTS

The average CRP values was 5.1 in the cases vs. 0.8 mg/L in the control group (p < 0.0001). The IL-6 average values were 2.77 in the cases vs. 2.70 pg/ml in the control group (p = 0.254). IL-1β levels were found to be within the normal range in all individuals. A positive correlation was found between the CRP values and the IR (p < 0.0001) as well as with the presence of obesity (p < 0.02). No correlation was found between PCR and hyperandrogenemia (p = 0.4) nor between IL-6 values and IR (p = 0.3), or between the levels of this cytokine and the presence of hyperandrogenemia (p = 0.2). A significant correlation was found between IL-6 levels and obesity (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrates the presence of a chronic inflammation status in young women with PCO. These parameters are mainly related to obesity and, to a lesser extent, to IR.

What is really responsible for bone loss in spontaneous premature ovarian failure? A new enigma

OBJECTIVE

To determine if there is a relation between the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol levels with values found in bone mineral density, at lumbar spinal and femoral neck levels, in patients with spontaneous premature ovarian failure (POF) as at the time of diagnosis.

METHOD

Cross-sectional study. Eighty-five patients were selected with a diagnosis of POF. Inclusion criteria. Forty women with bone mineral density (BMD) in any of the regions, that is, lumbar spine column or femoral neck. Forty-two age-matched healthy women were included as controls.

RESULTS

The average FSH value found was 80.11 mUI/ml, while the oestradiol average value was 37.2 pg/ml. The FSH values were correlated with the BMD values at the lumbar spinal column (p < 0.002) and the femoral neck (p < 0.002). The oestradiol values did not bear any relation with the BMD values in L2-L4 (p = 0.420) nor with the femoral neck (p = 0.868).

CONCLUSIONS

High FSH concentrations, but not oestradiol, are positively associated with bone mass loss in both skeletal regions, in patients with spontaneous POF.

Psychological assessment of patients with premature ovarian failure

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present work was to perform an overall psychological assessment of patients diagnosed with premature ovarian failure, with the aim of studying personality traits and assessing anxiety, depression and psychosocial stress among women suffering from this physical condition.

METHODS

We surveyed 21 patients between 18 and 39 years old. We psychologically assessed the patients with the following techniques: semi-structured interview, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults, Millon Index of Personality Styles, Psychosocial Stress Severity Scale, Human Figure Drawing Test, Two Person Drawing Test, and Rorschach Inkblot Test. The Pearson moment correlation statistic was utilized to appreciate correlation between the variables. To compare the results obtained we used the chi(2) test, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Student's t test. Significance level was set at alpha=0.05.

RESULTS

We found that these patients did not show high levels of depression, but they did show high values of anxiety. Psychosocial stress was higher throughout the year before they lost their menstrual cycles, than during the year before the psychological evaluation. Regarding personality profiles, the following scales stood out from the rest: Actively Modifying, Self-Indulging, Internally Focused, Realistic/Sensing, Feeling-Guided, Dominant/Controlling and Dissatisfied/Complaining.