OBJECTIVE:

To determine the difference in the neutrophil/lymphocyte index between PCOS patients and healthy women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional, comparative study. Women with PCOS were studied in which glucose, lipids, testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were measured, also a blood count was performed, and the neutrophil/lymphocyte index was calculated. The results were compared with healthy controls studied for infertility. For statistical analysis, Mann-Whitney U and Spearman correlation analysis were used.

RESULTS:

112 patients divided as follows were studied: group I with PCOS (n = 63) and group II healthy women (n = 49). The median age was for group I: 27 (14-39) and group II: 28 (16-41) years without statistically significant difference between them, also there were not between the groups in the concentrations of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides. The neutrophil/lymphocyte index was significantly higher in the group with PCOS, 1.9 (0.9-7.4) vs 1.4 (0.8-3.9), p < 0.000, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

PCOS is associated with a chronic inflammatory process that may confer greater cardiovascular risk.