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

Objective: To investigate fetuin-A concentrations and its association with metabolic and sonographic cardiovascular markers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy subjects. Study design: Thirty-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. Results: Mean 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 (r(PCOS) = 0.244. p(PCOS) = 0.158; r(control) = 0.002, p(control) = 0.988). Conclusion: In this, the first study of fetuin-A concentrations in PCOS, the results showed that fetuin-A concentrations were increased in euglycemic patients with PCOS. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.