ESTIMATION OF SERUM HOMOCYSTEINE LEVEL IN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (PCOS) - A CASE CONTROL STUDY.

Abstract

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the common endocrine conditions roughly
affecting about 6-10% women of reproductive age. It is characterized by ovarian dysfunction,
hirsuitism, hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance and obesity. Homocysteine is a sulphur
containing amino acid formed during the metabolism of methionine. It has cytotoxic effects on
vascular endothelium. Hyperhomocystinemia contribute to the development of cardiovascular
disease as evidenced by many studies. Women with PCOS are likely to develop components
of metabolic syndrome, such as disturbance of carbohydrate metabolism, obesity,
hypertension and dyslipidemia, which in turn are risk factors for cardiovascular disease
(CVD), since there is a strong association between serum homocysteine levels and insulin
resistance. With this background, this study focuses the level of homocysteine in PCOS
patients and to compare the same in normal healthy women. This study is a Case Control
Study conducted in Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital. Fifty women of reproductive
age were included in this study, comprising of 25 PCOS women and 25 women without
PCOS. The serum homocysteine level was measured using GenX homocysteine enzymatic
method (Proton) in fully automated analyzer. Mean level of homocysteine in PCOS was
10μmol/l and non-PCOS was 4μmol/l. The p-value of 0.01 was taken statistically significant.
Homocysteine level was found to be elevated in women with PCOS when compared to the
women without PCOS.