Plasma Visfatin Concentrations in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Relationships with Indices of Insulin Resistance and Hyperandrogenism

Background: Visfatin, a protein secreted by adipose tissue, is suggested to play a role in pathogenesis of insulin resistance. In polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), insulin resistance might be involved in the development of endocrine and metabolic abnormalities. Objective: The aim of the study was to measure plasma visfatin levels in PCOS women and to assess the relationship between plasma visfatin concentration and indices of insulin resistance and markers of hyperandrogenism in PCOS patients. Study Design: A total of 50 women were studied. Twentyfive women had PCOS, and the remaining 25 were healthy women with regular menstrual cycles who served as control subjects. Blood samples were collected between the 3 rd and the 5th days of a menstrual cycle in the control group and 3-5 days after a spontaneous menses, or independent of cycle phase in the presence of amenorrhea in the PCOS group for estimation of insulin, glucose, lipid parameters, sex-hormone and visfatin levels. Results: Plasma visfatin concentrations were significantly higher in the PCOS group (72.94 ±33.3ng/ml) than in the control group (54.69 ±31.5ng/ml) (p=0.039). The PCOS group had higher insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (3.12 ±0.98) in comparison to the control group (2.27 ±0.68) ( p=0.017). In the PCOS group, plasma visfatin levels were found to be positively correlated with BMI and waist circumference, HOMA-IR as well as with free androgen index, and negatively correlated with LH, total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels. In the whole study group, plasma visfatin levels was positively correlated with BMI and waist circumference, FSH and SHBG levels as well as with free androgen index, and negatively correlated with LH, total testosterone values. Conclusion: Visfatin levels are increased in women with PCOS compared to healthy controls. Visfatin is associated with insulin resistance in PCOS patients. Positive correlation was found between visfatin and free androgen index in PCOS patients.