Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and kisspeptin – A Sri Lankan study

<jats:sec> <jats:title>Context:</jats:title> <jats:p>Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the commonest endocrine disorder affecting young women. Kisspeptins are a family of closely related peptides encoded by Kiss1 gene that controls the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis by binding to its receptor (GPR54) expressed in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons and releases GnRH. Since GnRH secretion is deregulated in PCOS, we hypothesized that dysregulated gonadotropin secretion in PCOS is reflected by kisspeptin levels.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Aim:</jats:title> <jats:p>We aimed to measure serum kisspeptin levels of subjects with well-characterized PCOS versus controls and explore any correlation between kisspeptin and PCOS-related reproductive and metabolic disturbances.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Materials and Methods:</jats:title> <jats:p>Consecutive women with PCOS manifesting from adolescence (<jats:italic toggle="yes">n</jats:italic> = 55) and adult controls (<jats:italic toggle="yes">n</jats:italic> = 110) were recruited. Pre-treatment baseline clinical, anthropometry, and biochemical parameters were measured in all. Serum kisspeptin and testosterone levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Results:</jats:title> <jats:p>Serum kisspeptin and testosterone concentrations were significantly higher in women with PCOS (kisspeptin 4.873 nmol/L; testosterone 4.713 nmol/L) than controls (kisspeptin 4.127 nmol/L; testosterone 3.415 nmol/L; <jats:italic toggle="yes">P</jats:italic> < 0.05). Serum kisspeptin levels were positively associated with PCOS (odds ratio: 1.853; 95% confidence interval: 1.246–2.755; <jats:italic toggle="yes">P</jats:italic> = 0.002) in our studied population.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusion:</jats:title> <jats:p>Serum kisspeptin levels are higher in Sri Lankan women with PCOS manifesting from adolescence compared with controls regardless of body mass index. We propose serum kisspeptin concentration as a useful marker to recognize PCOS that manifests from adolescence.</jats:p> </jats:sec>