Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: To investigate total homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine (Cys), glutathione (GSH), lipid and steroid sulfate levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: The blood levels of Hcy, Cys, GSH (determined by HPLC), total and HDL-cholesterol, insulin (IRMA),DHEA and DHEAS, cortisol, pregnenolone, 17-hydroxy-pregnenolone and pregnenolone-sulphate (all RIA) were examined in 44 women with PCOS (age 24+/-7yrs) and 12 healthy controls (34+/-5yrs) in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.

Statistics: Student t-test, Spearman correlations.

Results: Hcy levels were significantly higher in PCOS patients than in the control group (10.3+/-2.87 vs. 8.78+/-2.75 umol/l;p<0.05). In PCOS, a significant positive correlation between Cys and insulin (r=0.658;p<0.003), Cys and pregnenolone sulfate (r=0.536;p<0.048) and a negative correlation between Cys and HDL cholesterol (r =-0.396;p<0.07) were found.

Conclusions: The total homocysteine levels were significantly higher in PCOS than in healthy women. In PCOS, a significant relationship between cysteine, HDL-cholesterol and insulin levels was found. Cysteine could be considered in relationship with the markers of cardiovascular risk in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

The study was supported by the grants IGA MH CR NB/6696-3 and 6702-3, with the approval of institutional ethical committee.