Testosterone level correlates significantly with luteinizing hormone to follicle-stimulating hormone ratio among women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), an endocrinological problem among women in the reproductive age, is characterized by chronic ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, and elevated luteinizing hormone: follicle stimulating hormone (LH-FSH) ratio. The goal of this study was to examine if the blood LH-FSH ratio and total testosterone (TT) levels in Sudanese women with PCOS were linked. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 300 women with confirmed PCOS based on Rotterdam criteria. PCOS women mean (standard deviation): age 29.1(5.8) years; body mass index (BMI) 27.9±4.6 kg/m2. Each participant underwent a clinical history, physical examination, and ovaries ultrasonogram. ASYS Expert Plus Microplate was used to quantify serum LH, FSH, and TT levels in fasting blood specimen drawn during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle of women with PCOS. Results: More than two-thirds of the participants (71.0%) had an aberrant LH-FSH ratio (cut-off>1.0), and 58.3% had hyperandrogenemia (TT>109.5 ng/dL). Hyperandrogenemic women had significantly increased LH-FSH ratio (P= 0.000). The LH-FSH ratio and serum TT were significantly positive correlated (r= 0.329, P= 0.000). Overall, 52.0% of women with PCOS exhibited menstrual cycle irregularity, and 59.0 % had a positive family history of PCOS. On logistic regression analysis, the LH-FSH ratio (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)): 2.308 (1.698- 3.139, P= 0.000) was found to be positively related to hyperandrogenemia independently. Furthermore, when the LH-FSH ratio is greater than one, hyperandrogenemia can be distinguished from normoandrogenemia, area under the curve (AUC) = 0.726, P= 0.000, 95% CI: (0.668-0.785) with a serum TT threshold of 109.5 ng/dL (sensitivity 70.0%, specificity 77.1%). Conclusions: In Sudanese women with PCOS, the serum LH-FSH ratio and TT have a strong relationship. Furthermore, LH-FSH ratio of greater than one can be used to distinguish between hyperandrogenic and non-hyperandrogenic PCOS women.

Serum Claudin-5 Level As A Predictor Of Changes In The Microvascular Endothelium In Young Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

“…Evidence supporting that PCOS is associated with chronic inflammatory state is emerging (Teede et al, 2019). PCOS is associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines elevation in plasma, such as interleukin-18 (IL-18) (Alhassan et al, 2022). Leukocytes and plasma proteins are known to infiltrate blood vessel walls, although endothelial cells act as a gatekeeper to prevent this from happening.…”

“…The most prevalent endocrine illness is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is associated with major metabolic system disorders like obesity, hyperinsulinemia, elevated lipid levels, and reproductive system problems like hyperandrogenism, anovulation, and infertility (Li et al, 2019;Alhassan et al, 2022), affecting women with a prevalence of 15-20% amongst reproductive age women according to the Rotterdam diagnostic criteria (Azziz et al, 2004;Alhassan et al, 2022). Even if the clinical definition is as stated, PCOS affects women's lives in more ways than just these symptoms because it has long-lasting repercussions that last for the whole of a woman's lifetime.…”