Evaluation of adipokines concentations with other biochemical parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome

Infertility, ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual cycles, acne and hirsutism are associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal imbalance that affects 8% to 21% of women globally. Adipokines, including chemerin, visfatin, adropin and irisin, play a role in fertility and genetic disorders. Factors such as anatomy, hormones, environment, genetics and immune system control female fertility. Analysis of serum chemerin and visfatin levels in obese body mass index (BMI) reveals a correlation between these hormones and body weight and serves as a biomarker to identify polycystic ovary syndrome. Serum chemerin, visfatin, adropin and irisin levels were determined in Iraqi polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with normal BMI and compared with controls. Furthermore, to evaluate the relationships between these hormones and biochemical markers (LH, testosterone, prolactin, FSH and insulin). We can consider changes in hormone levels as a biomarker to identify polycystic ovary syndrome. This case-control study included 100 women aged 19-40 years with a BMI of 27.89-36.89 kg/m2, including 50 healthy controls and 50 PCOS infertile patients, recruited at Al-Yarmook Teaching Hospital, Baghdad between October 2022 and March 2023. Chemerin levels were very different between the two groups. Levels in the control group ranged from 90.06 to 214.2 ng/mL with a mean of 158.4 ± 40.1, while levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome ranged from 249.8 to 529 ng/mL with a mean of 404.9 ± 81.16 ng/mL. The P-value for chemerin was <0.0001, indicating a highly significant difference. Visfatin concentration ranged from 2 to 37.96 ng/mL in the control group with a mean of 19.85 ± 9.218) ng/mL, while it ranged from 8.59 to 44.85 ng/mL in the polycystic ovary syndrome patient group with a mean of 28.96 ± 11.19 ng/mL. The p-value was 0.0081, indicating a significant difference. Adropin concentration showed a significant variability between the two groups. The control group had a range of (110.1-437.5) pg/mL and a mean concentration of (243.8 ± 127.2) pg/mL. In contrast, patients in the polycystic ovary syndrome group exhibited a high range of 83.81-112.3 pg/mL and a mean of (99.47 ± 8.244) pg/mL. The P-value for adropin was <0.0001, indicating a highly significant difference between the groups. Irisin levels were significantly different between the groups. While the control group ranged from 9.73 to 20.56 ng/mL and had a mean of 12.78 ± 3.558 ng/mL, the polycystic ovary syndrome patient group had a higher range of 22.66 to 50.28 ng/mL and had a mean of 31.84 ± 7.375 ng/mL. The P-value for irisin of 0.0001 indicated a highly significant difference. These significant differences in irisin levels were demonstrated. Compared to the control group, chemerin, visfatin, and irisin levels were higher in PCOS patients, while adropin levels were lower than in healthy women. Further research is needed to determine whether these changes serve as biomarkers for the detection of polycystic ovary syndrome.