Evaluation of Para- and Perirenal Fat Thickness and its Association with Metabolic Disorders in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare para- and perirenal fat (PFT) and subcutaneous abdominal fat (SFT) measurements between patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and control subjects and to assess the possible relation with metabolic disorders. This study included 68 patients with PCOS and 40 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls. We evaluated anthropometric, hormonal, and metabolic parameters, and abdominal ultrasonography was performed to measure PFT and SFT. The mean PFT values were 6.1 ± 2.9 mm in patients with PCOS and 4.3 ± 2.3 mm in healthy controls (P = .002). SFT values were also higher in the patient group (9.6 ± 5 mm) compared to healthy subjects (3.5 ± 0.5 mm) (P = .017). A significant positive correlation was found between PFT and BMI (r = 0.368), waist circumference (WC) (r = 0.441), Ferriman-Gallwey (FG) score (r = 0.313), blood pressure (systolic, SBP, r = 0.213; diastolic, DBP, r = 0.215), plasma glucose (r = 0.195), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, r = 0.273), SFT (r = 0.555). Conversely, negative correlations were found between PFT and estradiol (r = -0.218) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG, r = -0.304). Nonobese PCOS patients (6.1 ± 3.07 mm) had higher PFT values than nonobese controls (3.47 ± 1.5 mm); however, SFT measurements did not differ (P = .086). In multiple linear regression analysis, SFT (P = .006) was a significant and independent predictor for PFT, along with WC (P = .023). In a stepwise model, SFT was the predictor of PFT (P = .001). PFT values were higher particularly in nonobese PCOS patients compared to nonobese control subjects. There was a significant interaction between PCOS and obesity on PFT.