Biomarkers in polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-age women. PCOS is diagnosed by the presence of two of the following three characteristics: hyperandrogenemia and/or hyperandrogenism, oligo-/amenorrhea, and polycystic ovarian morphology. PCOS is associated with reproductive and nonreproductive complications, including obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes, dyslipidemia, and increased blood pressure. There is an urgent need for biomarkers that address both the reproductive and nonreproductive aspects of this complex syndrome. This review focuses on biomarkers, or potential ones, associated with the reproductive and nonreproductive aspects of PCOS, including anthropometric and clinical biomarkers, insulin and the insulin-like growth factor 1 system, lipids, anti-Müllerian hormone and gonadotropins, steroids, inflammatory and renal injury biomarkers, oxidative stress, and noncoding RNAs. We expect that this review will bring some light on the recent updates in the field and encourage researchers to join the exciting and promising field of PCOS biomarkers.