White blood cells levels and PCOS: direct and indirect relationship with obesity and insulin resistance, but not with hyperandogenemia

Objective: To study white blood cells count (WBC) in women suffering from PCOS and compare these results with age and BMI-matched healthy women. The specific aim of this study was to assess the possible correlations of WBC with the major components of PCOS, obesity, insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism. Design: Anthropometrical, metabolic and hormonal data were analyzed from 218 women with PCOS (Rotterdam criteria) and 76 age-matched controls. Results: In the total population studied (N=294), WBC was significantly higher (P=0.01) in the PCOS group compared with age-matched healthy women and was positively correlated with BMI (r=0.461, p 2: insulin-resistant women). WBC was significantly (p=0.02) higher in the group of insulin-resistant women and correlated significantly only with SHBG, even after adjusting for BMI. Conclusions: Chronic low-grade inflammation and increased white cell count do occur in PCOS. Obesity and insulin resistance are the two leading parameters that act accumulatively in the development of leucocytosis, whereas hyperandrogenism does not seem to affect it.