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.
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.
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.