Measurement of ferritin and transforming growth factor-β1levels in Iraqi women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract EN

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is common heterogeneous disorder syndrome in females, characterized by chronic oligoovulation, polycystic ovary, and hyperandrogenism.

This study aimed to the association of ferritin and transforming growth factor- β1 (TGF-β1) levels with insulin resistance, cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes risks.

Patients and methods: (61) Iraqi women with PCOS patients diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria, were subdivided according to their Body Mass Index (BMI) to: (20) lean women with normal BMI: (18-24), (17) overweight women with BMI: (25-29) and (25) obese women with BMI >30.

For the the purpose of comparison, (20) healthy Iraqi women were enrolled as controls matched for age.

Fasting serum glucose (FSG), serum insulin, ferritin and TGF-β1 was quantitatively determine, Homeostatic model assessment (HOMA2) parameters were calculated.

Results: Ferritin levels showed a high significant increase in the the obese and overweight group when compared with the lean group.

TGF-β1 showed a significant increase in obese and overweight groups but not in the lean group.

Pearson correlation analysis of patients groups revealed an a significant positive correlation between ferritin and (insulin, HOMA IR, and TGF- β1) and TGF- β1 with (FSG, insulin, and HOMA IR) while HOMA S (%) showed significant negative correlation with both ferritin and TGF- β1.

Conclusion: Increase body iron stores, as reflected by serum ferritin concentrations, and TGF-β1 in PCOS patients and their correlation with insulin and insulin resistance could be association with the risk increased risk for cardiovascular and T2DM diseases.