Evaluation of Serum Human Epididymis Protein 4 Levels in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Necati Hancerliogullari,Aytekin Tokmak,Aysegul Oksuzoglu,Meryem Kuru Pekcan,Tuba Candar,Yaprak Ustun

doi:10.7759/cureus.5736

Abstract

AimThe main purpose of this study is the determination of serum epididymis protein 4 (HE4) levels in women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and comparison with non-PCOS healthy controls.MethodsAll consecutive women, who applied between January 2017 and June 2017 to the gynecology outpatient clinics at the Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Training and Research Hospital and met the study criteria, were included in this cross-sectional study. Serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) concentrations were measured in each woman and the mean values were compared between the PCOS and non-PCOS groups.ResultsA total of 90 women (45 with PCOS and 45 without PCOS) were included in the final analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of age and body mass index (p >0.05). Basal serum HE4 levels were 172.8 ± 139.8 and 131.8 ± 123.1 pmol/L in the PCOS and non-PCOS groups, respectively (p = 0.415).ConclusionThe serum HE4 levels were found to be similar in women with and without PCOS. No significant correlation was observed between PCOS parameters and serum HE4 levels.

Highlights

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a clinical condition primarily characterized by ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism
The researchers conducting these studies claimed that such biomarkers could be used to identify subgroups of women with PCOS who are at potentially increased ovarian cancer risk
Given the possible risk of developing gynecologic cancers, endometrium and ovarian cancer, in patients with PCOS, in this study, we examined whether human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), which has a diagnostic value for ovarian cancer, can be used as a potential diagnostic biomarker for PCOS and is an alarming indicator of ovarian cancer risk in those patients

Summary

Introduction

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a clinical condition primarily characterized by ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism. These patients are at risk for infertility, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, and other adverse health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and endometrial cancer. Epidemiologic studies have shown that women with PCOS have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer (odds ratio: 2.5, 95% confidence interval 1.1-5.9) [2]. Some biomarkers such as calreticulin, malate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, fibrinogen-g, vimentin, and lamin B2 have been shown to increase in both PCOS and ovarian cancer women, and these markers have been reported to help improve our understanding of the linkages between PCOS and ovarian cancer [3]. The researchers conducting these studies claimed that such biomarkers could be used to identify subgroups of women with PCOS who are at potentially increased ovarian cancer risk

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