J Hum Reprod Sci. 2026 Sep 30;19(3):190-198. doi: 10.4103/jhrs.jhrs_56_26. eCollection 2026 Jul-Sep.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with metabolic abnormalities and increased long-term cardiovascular risk. Endothelial dysfunction is considered an early event in atherogenesis, and soluble E-selectin has been proposed as a marker of endothelial activation. However, its role in cardiovascular risk assessment in PCOS remains uncertain.
AIM: The study aimed to compare circulating soluble E-selectin levels between women with PCOS and healthy controls and evaluate their association with metabolic parameters and QRISK3-based cardiovascular risk scores.
SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective hospital-based case-control study.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred women with PCOS diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria and 50 age-matched healthy controls aged 18-40 years were enrolled. Clinical assessment, anthropometry, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, lipid profile, C-reactive protein and soluble E-selectin levels were evaluated. Estimated 10-year cardiovascular risk was calculated using the QRISK3 algorithm.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Group comparisons, correlation analyses and multivariable linear regression were performed.
RESULTS: Mean soluble E-selectin levels were comparable between women with PCOS and controls (0.61 ± 0.33 vs. 0.61 ± 0.29 ng/mL, P = 0.935). Within the PCOS group, soluble E-selectin correlated positively with HbA1c (r = 0.326, P = 0.001) and fasting blood glucose (r = 0.271, P = 0.001), while no significant associations were observed with anthropometric measures, lipid parameters, blood pressure or QRISK3 scores. In multivariable analysis, fasting blood glucose remained independently associated with soluble E-selectin.
CONCLUSION: Soluble E-selectin levels did not differ between women with PCOS and controls and showed limited associations with cardiovascular risk factors. These findings do not support a major role for soluble E-selectin in cardiovascular risk assessment among young women with PCOS.
PMID:42924328 | PMC:PMC13690305 | DOI:10.4103/jhrs.jhrs_56_26