title: Copeptin levels remain unchanged during the menstrual cycle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Copeptin, a surrogate marker for arginin vasopressin production, is evaluated as an osmo-dependent stress and inflammatory biomarker in different diseases. We investigated copeptin during the menstrual cycle and its relationship to sex hormones, markers of subclinical inflammation and estimates of body fluid.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 15 healthy women with regular menstrual cycles, blood was drawn on fifteen defined days of their menstrual cycle and was assayed for copeptin, progesterone, estradiol, luteinizing hormone, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and procalcitonin. Symptoms of fluid retention were assessed on each visit, and bio impedance analysis was measured thrice to estimate body fluid changes. Mixed linear model analysis was performed to assess the changes of copeptin across the menstrual cycle and the relationship of sex hormones, markers of subclinical inflammation and estimates of body fluid with copeptin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Copeptin levels did not significantly change during the menstrual cycle (p = 0.16). Throughout the menstrual cycle, changes in estradiol (p = 0.002) and in the physical premenstrual symptom score (p = 0.01) were positively related to copeptin, but changes in other sex hormones, in markers of subclinical inflammation or in bio impedance analysis-estimated body fluid were not (all p = ns).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although changes in estradiol and the physical premenstrual symptom score appear to be related to copeptin changes, copeptin does not significantly change during the menstrual cycle.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology, Medical University Clinic, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland; Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Claudine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology, Medical University Clinic, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Uzma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mirza
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Christ-Crain
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology, Medical University Clinic, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Beat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.affiliation: Service of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jardena J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Puder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006020:Glycopeptides; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C048197:copeptins; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein