The relationship of the interleukin‐6 −174 G>C gene polymorphism with cardiovascular risk factors in Turkish polycystic ovary syndrome patients

We aimed to evaluate the relationship between 174 promoter region of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) C/G gene polymorphism and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen and carotis intima-media thickness (CIMT), body mass index, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) insulin resistance index, serum lipid parameters, in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients carrying a potential risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). We studied 88 PCOS patients and 119 healthy controls. PCOS was defined by the Rotterdam PCOS consensus criteria. The genotype IL-6 distribution did differ between the control group (CC 10.1%, GC 63.0%, GG 29.6%) and the PCOS patients (CC 5.7%, GC 29.5%, GG 64.8%) (P < 0.001). The frequency of the polymorphic G allele was also no similar for the group with PCOS as for the control group with 79.5% and 58.4% respectively (P < 0.001). Both in PCOS patients and in control group, no statistically significant difference was determined between C/C, G/C and G/G, and blood cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, high-density lipoprotein levels, low density lipoprotein levels, fasting blood sugar levels, insulin levels, HOMA values, CIMT measurements either on the right or left side, hs-CRP, f-testosterone, fibrinogen and 17 alpha-hydroxy-progesterone levels (P > 0.05). Gene polymorphism of IL-6 -174 G>C is a risk factor for PCOS in Turkish patients, but we found no relationship between the cardiovascular risk factors and IL-6 -174 G>C gene polymorphism in women with PCOS and healthy subjects. Our negative results in risk factors of CVD can probably be explained by the fact that metabolic parameters and endothelial systems of patients may not yet be affected in this short time of period.