Lipid lipoprotein profile alterations in Greek infertile women with polycystic ovaries: influence of adipocytokines levels

Abstract

Aim: To correlate serum and follicular fluid (FF) leptin and visfatin levels with lipid lipoprotein levels in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing ovarian stimulation.

Materials and methods: We studied 90 PCOS women and 94 age- and weight-matched controls, enrolled in the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) program.

Results: Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a) levels were significantly elevated, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1, lower in PCOS subjects. Serum and FF visfatin levels were increased in PCOS women and correlated positively with body-mass index (BMI), lipoprotein(a) and triglycerides, and negatively with apolipoprotein A1. Leptin levels were comparable between groups and positively correlated with BMI and LDL-cholesterol, and negatively with apolipoprotein B.

Conclusion: Lipid lipoprotein alterations are common in reproductive-age PCOS women increasing the risk for cardiovascular diseases later in life. Leptin and visfatin play significant roles in lipid metabolism and further research is required in this area.

Keywords: Leptin; dyslipidemia; follicular fluid; in vitro fertilization; polycystic ovary syndrome; visfatin.