Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, multifaceted endocrinopathy associated with metabolic alterations such as insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, and obesity, and thereby an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Endothelial dysfunction and chronic inflammation are early findings in the atherosclerotic process. Elevated serum levels of uric acid may reflect low-grade chronic inflammation. But there are controversial data whether increased the uric acid level in PCOS patients. This study was aimed to examine the relationship between uric acid, lipoprotein levels and insulin resistance in obese and non-obese patients with PCOS.

Methods: Eighty-three young women with PCOS were included this study. Plasma levels of glucose, insulin and uric acid were measured. The patients were divided into two groups according to a cut-off BMI value of 30 kg/m². Anthropometric variables, hormonal and metabolic profiles were evaluated in both groups. Insulin resistance was evaluated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR).

Results: A total of 83 premenopausal PCOS patients with (n=37, mean (S.D.) age: 24.3 (4.7 years) or without obesity (n=46, mean (S.D.) age: 29.4 (6.3) years) were included in this study. Plasma uric acid levels and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in women with obese PCOS patients than non-obese PCOS patients. Serum fasting total cholesterol and hemoglobin A1c levels were similar between obese and non-obese groups. Compared with non-obese PCOS subjects, obese PCOS subjects had high HOMA-IR, insulin, TG and uric acid levels. Plasma fasting glucose levels, postprandial glucose levels and androgen levels were similar between obese and non-obese women with PCOS.

Conclusion: Our findings revealed significantly higher levels for plasma insulin and HOMA-IR values in obese PCOS patients when compared to non-obese PCOS patients. Obesity is the main determinant of serum uric acid concentrations in PCOS patients. Measurement of serum uric acid could help the detection of insulin resistance and related disorders in patients with PCOS.