Serum total renin is elevated in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the serum total renin in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and in controls.


METHODS
Outpatient clinic of reproductive endocrinology at Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland.


METHODS
Forty-four oligomenorrheic women with PCOS (body mass index [BMI] 18.0 to 49.0 kg/m2) and 25 control women with regular menstrual cycles (BMI 18.0 to 53.5 kg/m2).


METHODS
The concentrations of total renin, LH, FSH, T, androstenedione (A), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and insulin in serum.


RESULTS
The concentration of total renin in serum was higher in PCOS women than in healthy women independently of BMI, age, or serum insulin. The serum total renin measurement discriminated PCOS patients and control women to a similar extent as the previously used hormonal parameters (LH:FSH, T, A, and T:SHBG) as judged by receiver-operating characteristic analysis. Positive correlations were found between the serum total renin level and LH concentration, LH:FSH ratio, T and A levels, and T:SHBG ratio. Analysis of serum total renin in PCOS patients during oligomenorrhea and after menstruation did not reveal any significant changes.


CONCLUSIONS
The elevated concentration of serum total renin suggests an enhanced activity of ovarian renin-angiotensin system in PCOS. The determination of serum total renin may provide a novel tool in the diagnostics of PCOS, because its serum level is elevated in PCOS women independently of BMI and serum insulin.
Jaatinen
T A
TA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.
Matinlauri
I
I
Anttila
L
L
Koskinen
P
P
Erkkola
R
R
Irjala
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D009839:Oligomenorrhea / Q000097:blood; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D007328:Insulin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D012083:Renin