White blood cell differential counts in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a pilot study on Chinese women.

Objective: A state of systemic chronic low grade inflammation has been observed in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It has been suggested that inflammation is a potential mechanism influencing the ovaries or endocrine system and might therefore contribute to the pathophysiology of PCOS. The aim of this study was to compare the total white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil granulocyte and lymphocyte differential counts between women with PCOS and controls. In addition, we estimated if the WBC differential counts had a relationship with body mass index (BMI), total testosterone levels, estradiol levels and luteinizing hormone levels of women with PCOS.

Study Design: 1016 subjects with PCOS and 1016 age-matched healthy women from a Han Chinese population were enrolled in this case-control study. Blood samples were taken from all the patients and controls to test total WBC counts, lymphocyte counts, neutrophil counts and related serum hormones.

Results: Total WBC counts and lymphocyte counts were elevated in PCOS subjects (t-test P<0.01). Higher lymphocyte counts which contributed to higher total WBC counts in PCOS women were compared to age-matched controls. When the data were adjusted by BMI, the difference of WBC counts and lymphocyte counts between patients and controls remained significant.

Conclusions: The state of chronic low grade inflammation in patients with PCOS might be associated with immunological factors. Obesity and hyperandrogenism may be due to the underlying low grade inflammation.