The serum protein α2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein/fetuin-a concentration and carotid intima-media thickness in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

ObjectiveTo investigate fetuin-A concentrations and its association with metabolic and sonographic cardiovascular markers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy subjects.Study designThirty-five women with PCOS and 37 healthy control women were matched for body mass index (BMI) and age. Serum fetuin-A concentrations, and reproductive and adrenal hormones were measured, and insulin resistance and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) were evaluated in both groups. The correlations between cardiovascular risk factors, CIMT and fetuin-A concentrations were tested.ResultsMean fetuin-A concentrations were significantly elevated in the PCOS group compared with control subjects (101.2 ng/ml ± 33.55 vs. 82.5 ng/ml ± 32.65, P = 0.019). CIMT was also higher in women with PCOS than in control subjects (0.51 ± 0.05 mm vs. 0.44 ± 0.05 mm, P < 0.01). Serum lipid parameters were correlated to serum fetuin-A concentrations in the PCOS group, but no correlation was found between fetuin-A and CIMT (rPCOS = 0.244, pPCOS = 0.158; rcontrol = −0.002, pcontrol = 0.988).ConclusionIn this, the first study of fetuin-A concentrations in PCOS, the results showed that fetuin-A concentrations were increased in euglycemic patients with PCOS.