Plasma interleukin-18 levels are increased in the polycystic ovary syndrome: relationship of carotid intima-media wall thickness and cardiovascular risk factors

Objective: To determine serum interleukin (IL)-18 levels and to find out whether IL-18 is associated with carotidintima-media wall thickness (IMT) and various cardiovascular risk factors in women with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Design: A prospective, controlled study.Setting: University hospital.Patient(s): Sixty women with PCOS and 60 healthy women were included this study.Intervention(s): Serum levels IL-18, homocysteine (Hcy), C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, malonyldialdehyde(MDA), lipid and hormone profiles were measured. Carotid IMT was evaluated for both common carotid arteries.Main Outcome Measure(s): Serum IL-18, carotid IMT, Hcy, CRP, IL-6,MDA, and homeostasis model assessmentof insulin resistance.Result(s): The evaluation, which was made without the obesity influence taken into consideration, revealedthat patients with PCOS have increased serum IL-18 levels than that of the control group (214 102 vs. 170 78 pg/mL). The interaction between PCOS and obesity was seen to have statistical significance (F ¼ 67.8).Body mass index (BMI), waist to-hip ratio, Hcy, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance are independentdeterminants of plasma IL-18 in patients with PCOS. Elevated serum IL-18 levels were positivelyand significantly correlated with a greater carotid IMT. For Hcy and carotid IMT, the interaction betweenPCOS and obesity was found in a two-way ANOVA variation analysis (F ¼ 48.5 and F ¼ 81.5, respectively).Conclusion(s): Elevated serum IL-18 levels were associated with cardiovascular risk factors and carotid IMT inpatients with PCOS