title: Serum concentrations of afamin are elevated in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: Oxidative stress seems to be present in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between characteristics of PCOS and serum concentrations of afamin, a novel binding protein for the antioxidant vitamin E. A total of 85 patients with PCOS and 76 control subjects were investigated in a pilot cross-sectional study design between 2009 and 2013 in the University Hospital of Essen, Germany. Patients with PCOS were diagnosed according to the Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-sponsored PCOS Consensus Workshop Group. Afamin and diagnostic parameters of PCOS were determined at early follicular phase. Afamin concentrations were significantly higher in patients with PCOS than in controls (odds ratio (OR) for a 10 mg/ml increase in afamin=1.3, 95% CI=1.08-1.58). This difference vanished in a model adjusting for age, BMI, free testosterone index (FTI), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) (OR=1.05, 95% CI=0.80-1.38). In patients with PCOS, afamin correlated significantly with homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting glucose, BMI, FTI, and SHBG (P<0.001), but in a multivariate linear model, only HOMA-IR remained significantly associated with afamin (P=0.001). No correlation was observed between afamin and androgens, LH, FSH, LH/FSH ratio, antral follicle count, ovarian volume, or anti-Müllerian hormone. In conclusion, elevated afamin values may indicate a state of oxidative stress and inflammation, strongly associated with IR and offering an indicator of impaired glucose tolerance in patients with PCOS irrespective of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsUniversity of Duisburg-Essen, D-45122 Essen, GermanyDivision of Genetic EpidemiologyDepartment of Medical Genetics, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Schöpfstrasse 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, AustriaVitateq Biotechnology GmbHA-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Köninger
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsUniversity of Duisburg-Essen, D-45122 Essen, GermanyDivision of Genetic EpidemiologyDepartment of Medical Genetics, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Schöpfstrasse 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, AustriaVitateq Biotechnology GmbHA-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Philippos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Edimiris
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsUniversity of Duisburg-Essen, D-45122 Essen, GermanyDivision of Genetic EpidemiologyDepartment of Medical Genetics, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Schöpfstrasse 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, AustriaVitateq Biotechnology GmbHA-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsUniversity of Duisburg-Essen, D-45122 Essen, GermanyDivision of Genetic EpidemiologyDepartment of Medical Genetics, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Schöpfstrasse 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, AustriaVitateq Biotechnology GmbHA-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Enekwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsUniversity of Duisburg-Essen, D-45122 Essen, GermanyDivision of Genetic EpidemiologyDepartment of Medical Genetics, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Schöpfstrasse 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, AustriaVitateq Biotechnology GmbHA-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lamina
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsUniversity of Duisburg-Essen, D-45122 Essen, GermanyDivision of Genetic EpidemiologyDepartment of Medical Genetics, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Schöpfstrasse 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, AustriaVitateq Biotechnology GmbHA-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasimir-Bauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsUniversity of Duisburg-Essen, D-45122 Essen, GermanyDivision of Genetic EpidemiologyDepartment of Medical Genetics, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Schöpfstrasse 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, AustriaVitateq Biotechnology GmbHA-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kimmig
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsUniversity of Duisburg-Essen, D-45122 Essen, GermanyDivision of Genetic EpidemiologyDepartment of Medical Genetics, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Schöpfstrasse 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, AustriaVitateq Biotechnology GmbHA-6020 Innsbruck, AustriaDepartment of Gynecology and ObstetricsUniversity of Duisburg-Essen, D-45122 Essen, GermanyDivision of Genetic EpidemiologyDepartment of Medical Genetics, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Schöpfstrasse 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, AustriaVitateq Biotechnology GmbHA-6020 Innsbruck, Austria hans.dieplinger@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dieplinger
keywords: afamin; insulin resistance; oxidative stress; polycystic ovary syndrome; vitamin E-binding protein