Abstract:

Objective · To investigate the correlation between the serum haptoglobin (Hp) level and the metabolic parameters in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and explore the distribution of Hp genotype and allele frequency in PCOS patients and their correlations with PCOS. Methods · A total of 106 patients with PCOS and 86 cases of patients with non-hyperandrogenic and regular menstruation (control group) were enrolled. Serum Hp level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); Hp genotype and allele frequency were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. Results · The serum Hp level in PCOS group was significant higher than that in the control group (P=0.000). Correlation analysis reveals that serum Hp level was positively related to body mass index (BMI) (P=0.000) and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (P=0.000). Compared with control group, proportion of Hp2-2 genotype (Hp2/Hp2) increased significantly in PCOS group (P=0.006), and the frequency of Hp2 allele was also higher (P=0.002). Conclusion · Serum Hp level was positively related to BMI and HOMA-IR, which maybe associated with the occurrence and development of obesity and insulin resistance. Patients with Hp2-2 genotype might have genetic predisposition to PCOS, and high frequency Hp2 allele was found in them.

Key words: polycystic ovarian syndrome, haptoglobin, phenotypes, gene frequency