Fasting plasma ghrelin in women with and without PCOS

ObjectivesTo study the value of measuring ghrelin – a new marker for obesity – in Egyptian women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome.DesignCross sectional study.SettingKasr El-Aini Hospital, Cairo University.Materials and methodsThe study was conducted at Kasr Al-Aini Hospital, Faculty of medicine, Cairo University from February 2008 to January 2009. Sixty eight Egyptian females were divided into two groups according to their body mass index (BMI): average weight (N=20) and obese (N=48). This group was further subdivided into 2 subgroups (non-PCOS) group and PCOS group. Fasting leptin, ghrelin, insulin, glucose, lipid, urea and creatinine concentrations were determined. HOMA-IR was calculated.ResultsGhrelin concentration decreased in obese women compared to normal weight subjects. Ghrelin levels were negatively correlated with BMI (r=0.759), insulin (r=−0.319), HOMA-IR (r=−0.372). Leptin levels showed a positive correlation with BMI, insulin, HOMA-IR (r=0.723, 0.284, 0.345, respectively). Glucose and insulin levels were significantly higher in the obese group compared to controls. To estimate the value of using ghrelin in predicting PCOS, a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted showing a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 86% with a cut-off value of 34.1.ConclusionsGhrelin is a new marker that may be used for diagnosis of PCOS. Available data demonstrates a significant inverse relationship between ghrelin and leptin levels in obese women.