title: Studying the correlation of renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) components and insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOs).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is estimated that 5-7% of women of reproductive age have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and insulin resistance (IR) are the main characters of this complex syndrome. IR, diabetes and obesity are all strongly correlated with PCOS; moreover, the possibility of direct androgen mediated renin-angiotensin system (RAS) stimulation in women with PCOS is also reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between RAS, IR and PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty one women with PCOS, diagnosed by the Rotterdam criteria, were compared with thirty six control subjects. Both case and control groups were evaluated regarding to their basal hormonal profile, fasting blood sugar, IR, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity, plasma renin activity (PRA) and angiotensin II (AngІІ) levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to controls both ACE activity (p = 0.04) and AngΙΙ levels (p = 0.01) were significantly higher in case group. No significant differences between patients and controls were found in PRA. The results demonstrated that IR (p = 0.02) and fasting insulin (p = 0.004) were higher in case group, there was also a positive correlation between ACE activity and IR in case group (p = 0.02, r = 0.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results may suggest that there is an important correlation between ACE activity and IR in patients with PCOS.
authors: Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Embryology, Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Soheila
authors: S
authors: Arefi
authors: Sayeh
authors: S
authors: Mottaghi
authors: Ali M
authors: AM
authors: Sharifi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000097:blood*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000804:Angiotensin II; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D012083:Renin