Relaibility of salivary testosterone measurements in diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of a non-invasive method [saliva] for determination or testosterone level in diagnosing cases of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome [PCOS], and comparing it with serum free testosterone. Fifty women with PCOS and 20 normal women as control group were selected for the study. They all aged between 23-35 years. For all patients serum follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] and lutinizing hormone [LH] were assessed by chemiluminscent assay. Serum free testosterone [FT] was assayed by Radioimmunoassay [RIA] and salivary testosterone [ST] by ELISA technique. BMI was calculated for all participants and transvaginal sonography to determine ovarian morophology and ovarian volume. The present study showed a significant positive correlation between salivary testosterone, as measured by ELISA, and serum free testosterone measured by RIA [P=0.001 and r=0.52]. Using the receiver operator curve, salivary testosterone was found to be more sensitive than serum [FT] [84% VS 66%] in diagnosing PCOS patients. Determination of salivary testosterone is a reliable method to detect changes in the concentration of available biologically active testosterone in the serum. Salivary testosterone provides a sensitive, simple, reliable, non-invasive and uncomplicated diagnostic approach for PCOS