Serum Sortilin Levels as a Biomarker for Metabolic and Hormonal Dysregulation in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Background/

Objectives

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder affecting up to 15% of reproductive-age women, characterized by hyperandrogenism, chronic oligo-ovulation, and metabolic dysfunction. This study aims to evaluate serum sortilin levels in women with PCOS for the first time and investigate their potential associations with metabolic and hormonal alterations. Material and

Methods

Eighty PCOS patients and 80 healthy controls were included; serum sortilin levels were measured using ELISA kits, with documented intra-assay and inter-assay variations below 6% and 8%, respectively, ensuring high specificity and sensitivity.

Results

Serum sortilin levels were significantly elevated in PCOS patients (69.51 ± 27.75 pg/mL) versus controls (48.60 ± 21.20 pg/mL) (p < 0.001). PCOS patients exhibited higher mean HOMA-IR, free androgen index values, serum glucose, insulin, triglycerides, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, luteinizing hormone, total testosterone, and DHEA-S levels, alongside reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and sex hormone-binding globulin levels (all, p < 0.05). Notably, inverse correlations were observed between sortilin and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in both groups (p = 0.028 and 0.033).

Conclusions

This pioneering study indicates that serum sortilin may be implicated in PCOS pathogenesis and serves as a potential biomarker for metabolic dysfunction in PCOS. Larger, diverse studies with longitudinal designs are needed for further validation.