Abstract:

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine abnormality in reproductive-age women, which is characterized by hyperandrogenism, anovulation, and polycystic ovaries. Some evidence suggested that leptin also causes PCOS due to its role in female reproductive system. The physiological function of leptin controls the balance of energy and suppresses the center of appetite. Patients with PCOS maybe underweight, normoweight, overweight, and obese, based on their body mass index (BMI), but obesity is a common clinical situation in PCOS. Obesity occurs when the level of leptin increases but cannot decrease appetite, resulting in leptin resistance. This study aimed to discover the connection between BMI and the level of leptin in patients with PCOS. This was a cross-sectional observational analytic performed in Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital Bandung between April 25 and July 10, 2018. Subjects included 46 PCOS patients who were diagnosed based on Rotterdam criteria by gynecology obstetricians in the hospital. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to examine the leptin serum levels. Leptin level increased 74%, mostly in obese patients that comprised 41% of these subjects. Normal leptin levels was seen in 26% of patients, none of them was obese. The Spearman Rank correlation test showed a significant positive correlation between BMI and leptin levels (r=0.644, p=0.000). Hence, a high body mass index in people with PCOS positively correlates with increased leptin level.

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