Abstract
In an attempt to evaluate the association between allele 8 (A8) of D19S884 in the fibrillin-3 gene and circulating transforming growth factor (TGF) β and inhibin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), we studied 120 similarly aged women from families with PCOS and compared 40 women with PCOS who did not have A8 (A8- PCOS) with 40 women with PCOS who had A8 (A8+ PCOS) and 40 normally menstruating women who did not have either PCOS or A8 (A8- Non-PCOS). A8- PCOS is associated with higher levels of TGF-β1 compared with A8+ PCOS or A8- Non-PCOS, similar levels of TGF-β2 compared with A8+ PCOS but lower levels of TGF-β2 compared with A8- Non-PCOS, and lower levels of inhibin B and aldosterone compared with A8+ PCOS.