title: Evaluation of serum hepcidin and iron levels in patients with PCOS: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of chronic anovulation with a prevalence of 5-10% in women of reproductive age. The etiology of this disease is not well known, and hepcidin is one of the factors affecting the pathogenesis of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma levels of hepcidin in patients with PCOS and its correlation with serum iron level.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study, plasma levels of hepcidin, IL-6, and ferritin using ELISA method and serum iron levels using a spectrophotometric method were tested on 56 women with PCOS (case group) and 41 healthy subjects (control group). The results were analyzed using t test, General Linear Model, Binary logistic regression, and linear regression tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean hepcidin levels were 1.97 ± 0.53 and 2.40 ± 0.25 pg/ml in the case and control groups, respectively. The t-test results showed significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.0001). The mean serum iron levels were 72.89 ± 28.97 and 70.62 ± 31.18 g/dl in the case and control groups, respectively. The t test analysis indicated no significant difference between the two groups. The serum ferritin and iron levels had no significant relation with serum hepcidin level in two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the differences in the serum levels of hepcidin between the two groups, no significant relation was observed between serum iron levels and hepcidin level in this group of patients. This implies the need for more comprehensive studies on gene expression in hepcidin and iron pathways using real-time and Western techniques to investigate more precisely serum hepcidin level and its relationship with the factors mentioned.
authors.affiliation: Vali-e-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hossein Rashidi
authors.affiliation: Vali-e-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shams
authors.affiliation: Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shariat
authors.affiliation: Vali-e-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kazemi Jaliseh
authors.affiliation: Vali-e-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohebi
authors.affiliation: Vali-e-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. fedyeh_hagh@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haghollahi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D064451:Hepcidins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron
keywords: Hepcidin; Poly Cystic ovary Syndrome; Serum Ferritin; Serum Iron