Abstract:

Objective To investigate the changes and clinical significance of serum leptin levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods One hundred and seventy women initially diagnosed with PCOS were divided into normal body weight group (P1 group, n=69), overweight group (P2 group, n=44) and obesity group (P3 group, n=57) according to body mass index (BMI). Serum leptin levels were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and the relationship between serum leptin level and BMI, waist to hip ratio, blood glucose, blood insulin, blood lipid, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and pancreatic island B cell secretion function index (HOMA-IS) was explored. One hundred and forty-three age- and BMI-matched healthy volunteers were served as normal controls, and were also divided into normal body weight group (C1 group, n=102), overweight group (C2 group, n=20) and obesity group (C3 group, n=21). Results The detection and analysis of serum leptin levels indicated that there was no significant difference between P1 group and C1 group, while P2 group was significantly higher than C2 group (P<0.01), and P3 group was significantly higher than C3 group (P<0.01). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that serum leptin level was related to BMI, waist to hip ratio, serum triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, fasting and 2 h postprandial blood glucose, fasting and 2 h post-prandial blood insulin, HOMA-IR and HOMA-IS. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that serum leptin was independently related to BMI and HOMA-IR. Conclusion The increase of serum leptin may lead to abnormal glucolipid metabolism, which may contribute to the development of PCOS.

Key words: polycystic ovary syndrome, leptin, body mass index, insulin resistance