Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine-metabolic disorder characterized by multiple hormonal imbalances, reflecting on a clinical presentation dominated by manifestations of hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance. Plasma homocysteine is a non-protein sulfur-containing                α-amino acid plays a role in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality due to its atherogenic and prothrombotic properties.
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the association between insulin resistance and homocysteine level in women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome.
Study design: A case control study.
Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Al-Elwiya Maternity Teaching Hospital during the period from 1^st of March 2017 to end of April 2018.
MATERIALS AND METHOD:
One hundred women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome and same number of healthy women were included in the study.
After assessment according to questioner form, fasting blood sugar, serum insulin and plasma homocysteine were checked to find the association among them, the insulin resistance was calculated according to the following formula “IR= Fasting Glucose X Fasting Insulin/22.5= mmol/dl”.
RESULTS:
Increase in body mass index is found to be accompanied with increase in mean fasting blood sugar (6.4±2.7 mmol/L), Insulin resistance (11.6±10.7 mmol/L) and homocystiene level (14.9±1.6 µmol/L) when compared to control group whose mean values are (4.4±0.5 mmol/L, 3.6±1.5 mmol/L and 9±1.7 µmol/L) respectively were significantly higher. A noticeable significant association between obesity and high fasting blood sugar (p0.04), high insulin resistance (p0.009) and homocysteine level (p0.001) in women suffering PCOS.
CONCLUSION:
There are significant differences found in homocysteine level and insulin resistance among women suffering from PCOS when compared to control group. A significant positive association between increased homocysteine level and insulin resistance with increased body mass index in women              with PCOS.