In overweight/obese but not in normal-weight women, polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with elevated liver enzymes compared to controls.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate liver enzymes in a cohort of women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and controls divided according to body mass index (BMI) and their association with features of the syndrome.


METHODS
Eighty-three PCOS women and 64 healthy women were studied. Patients and controls were subdivided into two groups, a lean subgroup (BMI <25kg/m(2)) and an overweight/obese subgroup (BMI >25kg/m(2)). Clinical history, height and weight were obtained and metabolic and hormonal parameters were determined.


RESULTS
Serum fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, triglycerides and total cholesterol were significantly higher (p<0.05) in women with PCOS compared to controls. No significant difference in serum liver enzymes levels between PCOS women and controls was detected. However, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (17.7 vs. 14.1 U/L, p<0.05) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gammaGT) (17.9 vs. 13.4 U/L, p<0.05) were significantly higher in overweight/obese PCOS women compared with overweight/obese controls. In overweight/obese PCOS patients and controls, ALT levels were positively correlated with free androgen index (FAI) (r=0.25 p<0.05) and total testosterone levels (r=0.33 p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of elevated liver enzymes in overweight/obese PCOS women raises the question of screening for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in this group.
Economou
Frangiskos
F
Endocrine Section, First Department of Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
Xyrafis
Xenofon
X
Livadas
Sarantis
S
Androulakis
Ioannis I
II
Argyrakopoulou
Georgia
G
Christakou
Charikleia D
CD
Kandaraki
Eleni
E
Palioura
Eleni
E
Diamanti-Kandarakis
Evanthia
E
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000201:enzymology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology*; D014280:Triglycerides; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase