Procalcitonin (PCT) is a potential biomarker of obesity-related, low-grade inflammation
in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We aimed to investigate whether serum procalcitonin,
high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil
counts are associated with polycystic ovary syndrome and with obesity. A case–control
study included 107 women with PCOS and 93 healthy controls, they were then stratified
according to their body mass index (BMI) into three subgroups; lean, overweight and
obese. Serum PCT levels were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. PCOS
patients had significantly higher levels of serum PCT, hs-CRP, WBC, and neutrophil counts
than healthy women. In control and PCOS groups, serum PCT, hs-CRP levels, WBC, and
neutrophil counts were significantly increased in overweight and obese women compared
with lean subjects. Serum PCT levels were positively correlated with BMI, waist/hip ratio,
total cholesterol, serum triglycerides, LH/FSH, hs-CRP values, WBC and neutrophil counts
in PCOS women. We also observed that the increasing obesity was accompanied by a significant
increase in the mean values of serum PCT and neutrophil counts in PCOS patients. We
conclude that serum PCT is a novel biomarker for low-grade chronic inflammation in PCOS
patients, especially in obese women. Thus, PCT is a promising useful marker for accurate
diagnosis of the inflammatory activity of body fat and of PCOS.