Aim: To investigate serum and follicular fluid (FF) leptin levels in normally-ovulating women and subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and correlate them with their lipid lipoprotein profile.
Materials and methods: We included 70 PCOS women (35 lean and 35 overweight or obese) and 76 age- and weight-matched non-PCOS controls (39 lean and 37 overweight or obese).
Results: Serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein(a) and homocysteine in women with PCOS were significantly higher compared to control groups while levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 were significantly lower. Serum leptin levels did not differ between groups and were lower than FF levels. Serum and FF leptin levels were positively correlated and were significantly decreased when apolipoprotein B levels increased.
Conclusion: PCOS women exhibit lipid metabolism abnormalities putting them at increased risk of developing early atherosclerosis.
Keywords: Dyslipidemia; follicular fluid; in vitro fertilization; leptin; polycystic ovary syndrome.
Copyright © 2014 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.