Proinflammatory markers in women with type 1 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome

The frequency of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) appears to be higher in women living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Both diseases are characterized by a mild chronic inflammatory state. The proinflammatory protein profile in this population has not been fully evaluated. We conducted a cross-sectional, exploratory study in patients at the T1D Clinic from a tertiary referral hospital in Mexico. Using stored samples from a previous cohort, we categorized patients with T1D with or without PCOS, overweight/obesity, and metabolic syndrome (MS). C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) levels were quantified and compared among the groups. Thirty-seven patients were analyzed. IL-6 levels were greater in the groups with T1D and overweight or obesity than in the group with a normal body mass index (p = 0.003) and were greater in the group with T1D and MS than in the group with T1D without MS (p = 0.029). No differences were observed among patients with T1D with or without PCOS. Post-hoc power analysis indicated high power (> 95%) to detect clinically relevant differences in CRP and IL-6, but low power (26%) for TNF-a. In this exploratory study of women with T1D, obesity and other components of MS appeared more important determinants of inflammation than PCOS, probably because of the different pathophysiology of PCOS in these patients and the dominant inflammatory effect of adiposity.