The relationship between subclinical cardiovascular disease and lipocalin-2 levels in women with PCOS

Abstract

Objective: In this study we aimed to investigate the relationship between lipocalin-2 (LCN2) levels and cardiovascular risk in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Study design: Fifty patients with PCOS and 44 healthy women as controls were enrolled in the study. Laboratory and echocardiographic examinations were performed between the second and fifth days of the menstrual cycle. Serum LCN2 levels were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

Results: Serum LCN2 levels were significantly lower in PCOS patients (75.8 [51.4-131.2] ng/ml vs. 85.3 [56.7-138.5] ng/ml, p=0.038). Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was increased in patients with PCOS compared to controls (0.61±0.13mm vs. 0.50±0.07mm, p=0.001). Aortic strain was lower in patients with PCOS. Aortic stiffness (β index) was significantly increased and distensibility was decreased in PCOS patients compared to control subjects. Serum LCN2 levels and the presence of PCOS were associated with CIMT in Spearman correlation analysis (p=0.05 and p<0.001) in all participants. There was no statistically significant relationship between LCN2 levels and CIMT in patients with PCOS (p=0.238).

Conclusion: In the present study, we found that LCN2 levels were low in women with PCOS. Although our patients with PCOS had elevated cardiac risk, there was no correlation between LCN2 levels and early findings of atherosclerosis.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Echocardiography; Lipocalin-2; PCOS.