Metastin levels in relation with hormonal and metabolic profile in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum concentrations of metastin in relation with hormonal and metabolic profile in patients with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: The study was a clinical study. Eighty-three women with PCOS and 66 body mass index (BMI) matched controls were divided into two groups, based on BMI: overweight and obese (BMI≥25 kg/m(2)) and normal weight. (BMI<25 kg/m(2)) Hirsutism scores, hormonal and metabolic profile as well as metastin levels were evaluated in each subject. Blood samples were collected in the early follicular phase (between day 2 and day 5 of the menstrual cycle) at 9:00 AM, after an overnight fast. Circulating levels of LH, FSH, PRL, TSH, T, fT, DHEAS, 17-OH-P, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), insulin, glucose, lipid profile and metastin were measured.

Results: Metastin levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group compared to controls (2.02 ng/ml versus 1.16 ng/ml, p<0.001). Metastin levels correlated significantly positively with luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosteronesulphate (DHEA-SO4) levels, modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mFG) scores and free androgen index (FAI); however, correlated negatively with sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels (p<0.05). When overweight or obese (BMI≥25 kg/m(2)) and normal weight (BMI<25 kg/m(2)) women with PCOS were compared to body mass index (BMI) matched controls, higher metastin levels were also found in PCOS groups (1.94 ng/ml versus 1.18 ng/ml, and 2.06 ng/ml versus 1.08 ng/ml, p<0.05, respectively).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that metastin levels were higher in women with PCOS as compared to controls regardless of BMI. Furthermore, metastin levels can be used as a specific marker for androgenic profile and this marker might play a role in the pathogenesis of PCOS.