A correlative study of biochemical parameters in polycystic ovarian syndrome

Abstract

Background: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome was originally described by Stein and Leventhal in 1935, as a triad consisting of amenorrhea, hirsutism and obesity, in women who had multiple cysts on their ovaries. PCOS also known as functional ovarian hyperandrogenism is a complex disorder that begins during puberty and affects reproductive-age women.It is characterized by a varied and often complex array of metabolic and endocrine abnormalities. Aim: To analyse and correlate the biochemical parameters (Glucose, Magnesium, Uric Acid and lipid profile) in women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Materials and Methods: After Ethical Committee Approval, blood samples were collected from 30 premenopausal women diagnosed to have PCOS by Rotterdam Criteria and 30 healthy controls (premenopausal women); aged 18 to 40 years. Fasting plasma glucose, serum magnesium, uric acid and lipid profile were investigated in both PCOS patients and controls. The correlation between these biochemical parameters were then studied in the PCOS group. Result: There was a significant increase in fasting plasma glucose (P < 0.001) and serum uric acid (P < 0.0001) levels with decrease in serum magnesium (P < 0.01) levels in PCOS patients as compared to controls. PCOS women had higher BMI (P < 0.0001) with increased total cholesterol (P < 0.0001), TGL (P < 0.0001), LDL-C (P < 0.0001), VLDL-C (P < 0.0001) and lower HDL-C (P < 0.0001) as compared to the controls which was statistically significant. The levels of glucose showed significant positive correlation with uric acid (r = 0.53; P = 0.002), total cholesterol (r = 0.48; P = 0.006), triglycerides (r = 0.52; P = 0.002), LDL-C (r = 0.44; P < 0.01) and highly significant negative correlation with magnesium (r = -0.85; P < 0.0001) whereas non-significant negative correlation with HDL-C. Uric Acid showed significant negative correlation with HDL-C(r = -0.39; P = 0.02). No correlation was found between uric acid and magnesium, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C and VLDL-C. Conclusion: The findings of this study confirms the association between Glucose, Magnesium, Uric Acid, BMI and dyslipidaemia in PCOS and may help to identify women with PCOS at risk of cardio metabolic syndrome thereby confirming the association between PCOS and cardiovascular risk factors.