Assessing the variability and predictability of adipokines (adiponectin, leptin and resistin and their ratios) in non-obese and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Abstract Objectives To assess the variability in adiponectin, leptin, and resistin between ovulatory women, and non-obese and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study also explores the ratios of the adipokines and evaluated their predictability for PCOS. Results The PCOS group presented with lower adiponectin [13.0(10.49-16.59) vs 18.42(15.72-19.92) µg/ml, p<0.0001], adiponectin: leptin ratio [0.60(0.35-0.88) vs 1.19(0.92-1.37), p<0.0001], and adiponectin: resistin ratio [0.30(0.21-0.43) vs 0.42(0.32-0.62), p<0.0001] but a higher leptin [20.02(14.54-26.80) vs 16.17(14.51-18.36) ng/ml, p<0.0001] and leptin: resistin ratio [0.53(0.37-0.82) vs 0.40(0.27-0.48), p<0.0001] compared to the ovulatory group. The obese PCOS group presented with lower adiponectin [11.04(5.66-13.25) vs 14.18(11.04-18.02) µg/ml, p<0.0001 and 18.42(15.72-19.92) µg/ml, p<0.0001], adiponectin: leptin ratio [0.36(0.27-0.44) vs 0.78(0.61-1.16), p<0.0001 and 1.19(0.92-1.37), p<0.0001], and adiponectin: resistin ratio [0.24(0.17-0.38) vs 0.40(0.23-0.58), p<0.0001 and 0.42(0.32-0.62), p<0.0001] but a higher leptin [26.80(14.28-32.09) vs 17.95(14.86-21.26) ng/ml, p<0.05 and 16.17(14.51-18.36) ng/ml, p<0.0001] and leptin: resistin ratio [0.63(0.46-1.03) vs 0.41(0.30-0.61), p<0.0001 and 0.40(0.27-0.48), p<0.0001] compared to the non-obese PCOS and ovulatory control group, respectively. Adiponectin: leptin ratio presented with the best discriminatory power in predicting PCOS (AUC=0.83) followed by adiponectin alone (AUC=0.79), and leptin: resistin ratio and leptin alone (both AUC=0.69). Resistin alone presented with the poorest discriminatory power (AUC=0.48).