Serum anti-carbonic anhydrase I and II antibodies and polycystic ovary syndrome

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate anti-carbonic anhydrase antibodies (anti-CA I and CA II antibodies) in the sera of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: In this study serum anti-CA I and II antibody levels of age and BMI matching fifty women with PCOS and fifty women without PCOS on day three of menstrual cycle were assessed with an ELISA method previously developed by Hosoda and modified by Alver et al. Results: The mean serum anti-CA I antibody levels were significantly higher in women with PCOS and anti-CA II antibody levels were not significantly different in women with PCOS compared with control subjects. For serum anti-CA I antibody, the absorbance higher than 0.484 (mean + 3SD of control subjects) was taken as positive, Anti-CA I antibody was detected in 13 of 50 patients with PCOS (26%). Considering serum anti-CA II antibody, the absorbance higher than 0.654 (mean + 3SD of control subjects) was taken as positive. Anti-CA II antibody was detected in 2 of 50 patients with PCOS (4%). All patients with positive anti-CA II antibody also had positive anti-CA I antibody. Autoantibodies specifically reactive to CA I were found to be present at a higher frequency than CA II in the serum of subjects with PCOS in the present study. Conclusion: The results may suggest that autoimmune responses against CA I may be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS.