Adiponectin levels in adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
OBJECTIVE
To determine serum adiponectin concentrations in adolescent girls with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to assess possible correlations of adiponectin levels with insulin and androgen levels.


METHODS
Prospective case-control study.


METHODS
Endocrine clinics in the community.


METHODS
Forty-four adolescent girls were grouped as follows: 14 were overweight [body mass index (BMI) standard deviation score >1.645] with PCOS; 16 were lean (BMI SDS <1.036) with PCOS; and 14 were lean (BMI SDS <1.036) without PCOS. Intervention Blood samples were collected from all girls between 8 and 11 am, after an overnight fast.


METHODS
Serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, insulin, Müllerian-inhibiting substance, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstendione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and 17beta-oestradiol.


RESULTS
Adiponectin concentrations were significantly decreased in obese adolescents with PCOS (10.5 +/- 5.5 mug/ml) compared with that in lean girls with or without PCOS (16.9 +/- 8.64 and 18.0 +/- 7.4 mug/ml respectively). Leptin levels were significantly elevated in obese adolescents with PCOS compared with the levels in normal weight adolescents with PCOS, and compared with that in normal weight controls. Insulin levels were markedly higher in obese adolescents with PCOS compared with that in normal weight adolescents (12.3 +/- 12.2 vs. 4.5 +/- 2.9, P < 0.05), and compared with that in normal weight PCOS adolescents (7.4 +/- 4.9); however, this difference was not statistically significant. Insulin levels did not differ between normal weight adolescents with PCOS and normal controls. Adiponectin concentrations correlated inversely with BMI, leptin and insulin.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypoadiponectinaemia is evident only in obese adolescents with PCOS and therefore does not seem to be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS in this age group.
Pinhas-Hamiel
Orit
O
Endocrine Clinic, Maccabi Health Care Services, Israel. orithami@sheba.health.gov.il
Singer
Sigal
S
Pilpel
Nurit
N
Koren
Ilana
I
Boyko
Valentina
V
Hemi
Rina
R
Pariente
Clara
C
Kanety
Hannah
H
D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000097:blood; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D052242:Adiponectin; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone