Serum visfatin in Asian women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine serum visfatin levels in Asian polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women and its correlations with various parameters.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Eighty women were enrolled in this study. Of these, 40 women were PCOS and 40 age-matched subjects with regular menstrual cycles were controls.


METHODS
Seventy-five gram oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in all women. Fasting venous blood samples for serum visfatin, insulin and androgen levels were obtained both from the PCOS and the control women.


METHODS
Serum concentrations of visfatin, fasting insulin (FI), fasting glucose, 2-h post-load glucose (2hPG), homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance, homeostasis model assessment beta cell function, total testosterone, free testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were measured in both groups.


RESULTS
Women with PCOS had significantly higher serum visfatin levels than the healthy controls [100.39 +/- 41.90 vs. 45.09 +/- 28.24 mg/ml, p < 0.01]. PCOS women also had significantly higher concentrations of all androgens (p < 0.01). Insulin resistance seemed to be greater in the PCOS than the control groups, but did not reach a statistically significant level. In the PCOS group, serum visfatin levels were positively correlated with 2hPG, and systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Serum visfatin levels were negatively associated with FI (r = -0.80, p = 0.03) and positively associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.77, p = 0.04, r = 0.79, p = 0.03, respectively) in the sub-group of PCOS women with abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT).


CONCLUSIONS
Asian PCOS women had significantly higher serum visfatin levels than age-matched healthy controls. Their levels were significantly correlated with 2hPG and blood pressure in PCOS women, and with FI and blood pressure in PCOS women with AGT.
Jongwutiwes
Theerayut
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Ratchatawee, Bangkok, Thailand.
Lertvikool
Srithean
S
Leelaphiwat
Supatra
S
Rattanasiri
Sasivimol
S
Jultanmas
Rattiya
R
Weerakiet
Sawaek
S
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D044466:Asian People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000097:blood*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000728:Androgens; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase