Abstract
Resistin is a polypeptide hormone firstly identified in mice adipocytes. The role of resistin in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is controversial. This cross-sectional case-control study was conducted to evaluate the possible involvement of resistin in the pathogenesis of PCOS in Sudanese women with PCOS, in relation to insulin levels, insulin resistance (IR), and body mass index (BMI). Three hundred women were enlisted in this study. Two hundred were cases with PCOS; and 100 healthy women without PCOS as controls. The mean BMI of the PCOS group was (27.8 +/- 6 kg/m(2)) versus (24.5 +/- 4.9 kg/m(2)) in controls (P=0.000). The mean age in PCOS patients was (27.2 +/- 4.9 years), versus (27.5 +/- 3.9 years) in controls. The mean serum resistin among women with PCOS was (3549.4 +/- 1571.2 pg/mL) versus (2012.1 +/- 1501.3 pg/mL) in controls; (P=0.000). The mean serum resistin within obese/overweight women with PCOS was (3610.7 +/- 1574.2 pg/ml) versus (2163.4 +/- 1664.1 pg/ml) in obese/overweight controls (P=0.000). The mean serum resistin through normal weight women with PCOS was (3457.5 +/- 1572.1 pg/ml) versus (1860.7 +/- 1318.3 pg/ml) in normal weight controls (P=0.000). The mean serum insulin in women with PCOS was (16.4 +/- 13.2 mU/L) versus (10.1 +/- 4.2 mU/L) in controls (P=0.000). The mean IR among women with PCOS was (3.9 +/- 3.5) versus (2.2 +/- 1.1) in controls (P=0.000). Resistin was significantly positively correlated with BMI (P=0.003), fasting insulin (P=0.000) and the degree of IR (P=0.001). In Sudanese women with PCOS; resistin significantly increases and positively correlates with insulin levels, insulin resistance and body mass index. Resistin may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PCOS.