title: Apelin levels in relation with hormonal and metabolic profile in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate serum concentrations of apelin in relation to the hormonal and metabolic profile in patients with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 45 women with PCOS and 45 age-matched controls were eligible for the study. Hirsutism scores, hormonal and metabolic profile as well as apelin levels were evaluated in each subject.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with PCOS exhibited lower serum concentrations of apelin than controls (194.1±50.7pg/ml versus 292.1±85.6pg/ml, p<0.001). Apelin levels were significantly correlated positively with body mass index (BMI), insulin, triglyceride (TG), free testosterone (fT) levels, modified Ferriman Gallwey scores and Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index; but negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in patients with PCOS (p<0.05). When overweight or obese (BMI≥25) and normal weight (BMI<25) women with PCOS were compared to BMI-matched controls, lower apelin levels were found in the PCOS group (226.7±45.4pg/ml versus 378.6±80.9pg/ml and 165.5±36.1 versus 249.0±46.6pg/ml, p<0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that serum apelin levels are lower in women with PCOS than in controls. Furthermore, apelin can be used as a specific marker for insulin sensitivity and lipid profile and this adipokine might play a role in the pathogenesis of PCOS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey. Electronic address: altinkayaozlem@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sündüz Özlem
authors.initials: SÖ
authors.lastname: Altinkaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sümeyra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nergiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Sıtkı Koçman University, Faculty of Medicine, Mugla, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mert
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Küçük
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yüksel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000073861:Apelin; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D055442:Metabolome; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: C115436:APLN protein, human; D000073861:Apelin; D001786:Blood Glucose; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Adipokine; Apelin; Polycystic ovary syndrome