Correlation of visfatin levels and lipoprotein lipid profiles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing ovarian stimulation.

The aim of this study was to determine serum and follicular fluid (FF) visfatin levels in age and weight-matched women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and normally ovulating subjects undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and correlate them with their lipid and lipoprotein levels. We included 80 PCOS women (40 lean and 40 overweight) and 80 age- and weight-matched controls, enrolled in the IVF program. In PCOS women, we determined significantly increased serum and FF visfatin as well as serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein(a) and homocysteine, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 were significantly lower compared to controls. Serum visfatin levels positively correlated with total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein(a) and homocysteine levels and negatively with apolipoprotein A1. FF visfatin levels positively correlated with triglycerides and homocysteine and negatively with apolipoprotein A1. Dyslipidemia is common in reproductive age women with PCOS exposing them to risk for cardiovascular diseases. However, the detailed role of visfatin on lipoprotein lipid profile awaits further clarification through future investigation.