title: Plasma Visfatin Levels in Adolescents with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Prospective Case-Control Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the plasma visfatin levels in hirsute female adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective case-control study included 87 female patients who were seen in our adolescence department. Demographic characteristics and hormonal and biochemical parameters were evaluated between patients with and without polycystic ovary syndrome. Next, we divided the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome into the following subgroups: overweight or obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m(2)) vs normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m(2)) and hirsute vs nonhirsute.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were statistically significant differences in the BMI, serum androgen levels, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels, and insulin levels between patients with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (P < .05). The mean visfatin levels showed no statistically significant difference between these 2 groups (P > .05). The serum visfatin levels were similar between the 2 subgroups classified by BMI (P > .05). However, there were statistically significant differences in the total and free testosterone levels, 17-hydroxylase progesterone level, HOMA-IR level, and visfatin level between the 2 subgroups classified by hirsutism (P < .05). The plasma visfatin level was higher in hirsute PCOS than in nonhirsute PCOS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significantly higher visfatin levels were found in hirsute than in nonhirsute adolescents with PCOS. According to these results, plasma visfatin levels may be a useful marker in hirsute adolescents with PCOS.
authors.affiliation: Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Hamamönü, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ülker
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Gümüş
authors.affiliation: Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Hamamönü, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali Irfan
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Güzel
authors.affiliation: Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Hamamönü, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: dronurtopcu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hasan Onur
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Topcu
authors.affiliation: Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Hamamönü, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Timur
authors.affiliation: Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Hamamönü, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nafiye
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.affiliation: Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Hamamönü, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Danışman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000097:blood*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase
keywords: Body mass index; Hirsutism; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Visfatin