Abstract
Objective
The objective of this study was to compare the impact of aging on nitric oxide (NO)
modulation of platelet and vascular function in healthy women and women with polycystic
ovary syndrome.
Methods and Results
A case-control study of women ages 18 to 60 years, comparing women with polycystic
ovarian syndrome against age-matched healthy controls, was performed. A total of 242
women, of whom 109 had polycystic ovarian syndrome (based on Rotterdam criteria),
participated in the study. Women who were pregnant or on clopidogrel were excluded
from the study. Inhibition of platelet aggregation by nitric oxide (primary outcome
measure), vascular endothelial function, plasma concentrations of NG, NG-dimethyl-L-arginine (ADMA), endothelial progenitor cell count, and high-sensitivity
C-reactive protein (markers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation) were assessed.
With increasing age in control women, there was progressive attenuation of platelet
responses to NO, impairment of endothelial function, and elevation of ADMA levels
(P ≤.001). Irrespective of age, women with polycystic ovarian syndrome exhibited greater
impairment of all these parameters (all P <.05, 2-way analysis of variance) and demonstrated these anomalies earlier in life.
Conclusions
Normal aging in women is associated with attenuation of NO-based signaling in platelets
and blood vessels. In women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, these changes are present
from early adult life and may contribute to premature atherogenesis.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: May 20, 2013
Footnotes
Funding: This study was funded in part by the Cardiovascular Lipid Disorders research grant (Pfizer, Australia), and departmental funding . WC and AS were recipients of postgraduate research scholarships from the University of Adelaide and Cardiovascular Lipid Disorders research grants (Pfizer, West Ryde, NSW, Australia).
Conflict of Interest: None.
Authorship: All authors had access to the data and a role in preparation of the manuscript.
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
