ABSTRACT
Background: Endocrine abnormalities related to polycystic ovary Syndrome [PCOS] are important problems
Objective: To compare serum leptin levels between infertile women with and without PCOS. To rank sensitivity of six indirect methods for detection of insulin resistance [IR] and to evaluate the association between leptin and IR in PCOS group
Materials and methods: This Case-controlled study performed on 189 infertile women referred to Shiraz Mother and Child Hospital during 2012-2015. Ninety-nine PCOS cases according to Rotterdam criteria were compared to 90 cases without PCOS. Serum leptin, body mass index [BMI], several hormones, and their correlation coefficients with leptin were compared. IR in PCOS women was measured by indirect methods, including fasting blood sugar [FBS], fasting insulin [FI], glucose/insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR], quantitative insulin sensitivity check index [QUICKI], and MacAuley index. Association between IR and leptin was evaluated. Independent sample t-test and Pearson's test were used
Results: Infertile women with PCOS had higher BMI [26.47 +/- 3.62 vs. 24.82 +/- 5.18 kg/m[2]] and serum leptin levels [41.79 +/- 187.89 vs. 19.38 +/- 12.57 ng/mL]. Leptin showed significant association with weight and BMI in both groups [p<0.001] and to age in non-PCOS group. HOMA-IR showed the highest rate of IR followed by FI and QUICKI methods. The mean leptin levels had positive association with IR assessed by HOMA-IR [p<0.001], QUICKI [p<0.001], FI [p=.002], and FBS [p=0.02]
Conclusion: BMI and IR have positive association with serum leptin in PCOS infertile women. HOMA-IR followed by FI and QUICKI is the most sensitive test for detection of IR