Endocan is a predictor of increased cardiovascular risk in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Articles > Article · 2016
Authors: MERVE BİÇER, ASLI GÜLER, Gökçen ÜNAL KOCABAŞ, ÇETİN İMAMOĞLU, ALİ BALOĞLU, OKTAY BİLGİR, ARİF YÜKSEL, GİRAY BOZKAYA, MEHMET ÇALAN
Endocrine Research, Journal Indexed in SCI Expanded, International, 2016, vol 42, pp 145-153
DOI: 10.1080/07435800.2016.1255896
Summary
Purpose: Endocan is a proteoglycan secreted mainly from endothelial cells. It has been implicated that there is a link between endocan and endothelial dysfunction. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a reproductive and metabolic disease associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. The aims of this study were to ascertain whether circulating endocan levels are altered in women with PCOS, and whether there is an association between endocan and carotid intima media thickness (cIMT). Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included 80 women with PCOS and 80 age- and BMI-matched controls without PCOS. Circulating endocan levels were measured using ELISA. Metabolic, hormonal parameters and cIMT were determined. 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (2-h OGTT) was performed on all women. Results: Circulating endocan levels were significantly elevated in women with PCOS compared with controls (5.99 ± 2.37 vs. 3.66 ± 1.79 ng/ml, P < 0.001). Endocan levels positively correlated with BMI, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), free androgen index (FAI), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and cIMT in both PCOS and control groups. Endocan levels did not correlate with fasting blood glucose, 2-h OGTT, A1C and lipid parameters. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that endocan is an independent predictor for cIMT (β = 0.128, 95% CI = 0.118–0.138, P = 0.011). Conclusions: Circulating endocan levels are significantly higher in women with PCOS and endocan is independently associated with cIMT. Elevated endocan levels can be a predictor of increased cardiovascular risk in PCOS subjects.