Variations in Plasma Glucose, Testosterone, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha in Relationship with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Viral Seromarkers in Infertile Women: A Case–Control Observational Study

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of infertility in Nigeria which is associated with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance may be induced by elevated inflammatory cytokines, androgen excess (testosterone), and irregular menstruation or anovulation. This work was designed to determine possible variations in plasma glucose, testosterone, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) in relationship with PCOS and viral seromarkers in infertile women. Two hundred and fourteen (214) primary infertility women with PCOS aged 37 ± 4.93 years diagnosed through ultrasound were recruited as test subjects while one hundred (100) age-matched primary infertility women without PCOS were recruited as control. All subjects were negative to Giemsa thick blood film staining for the detection of Plasmodium and Ziehl–Neelsen staining for the detection of acid–fast bacilli. HIVp24 antigen and antibody, plasma testosterone, antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), and envelope antigen to hepatitis B Virus (HBeAg) were determined in the subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay while blood glucose was measured spectrophotometrically. The results obtained showed a higher frequency of 0.93% (2) HIVP24antigen-antibody, 6.5% (17) anti-HCV, 14.5% (31) HBeAg, and 0.5% (1) HIVP24 + HBeAg (except for HIVP24 antigen and antibody) in PCOS women than the frequency of viral seromarkers of 1% (1) HIVP24 antigen and antibody, 6% (6) anti-HCV, 8% (8) HBeAg, and 0% (0) HIVP24 + HBeAg in non-PCOS control women. There was a significant association between PCOS and expression of viral seromarkers; there was a significantly higher fasting plasma glucose and testosterone level in all PCOS women with or without viral seromarkers (P < 0.05). There was a significantly higher plasma TNFα in PCOS women that expressed viral seromarkers than in PCOS women who do not express any of the viral seromarkers (P < 0.05). There was a significantly higher plasma TNFα in PCOS and non-PCOS women although more in PCOS women that expressed viral seromarkers than in women without any viral seromarker (P < 0.05). PCOS may be characterized by elevated plasma fasting glucose, testosterone, and expression of viral seromarkers while viral infection could also trigger higher plasma TNFα in PCOS women than in non-PCOS women infected with viral agent.