Evaluating plasma phoenixin-14, galanin, galanin-like peptide, and spexin levels in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Impaired central neuropeptide production is implicated in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Aim: This study aimed to determine whether plasma phoenixin-14, galanin (GAL), galanin-like peptide (GALP), and spexin levels in women with PCOS were altered compared to those in non-PCOS controls.

Methods: Sixty participants, including 30 patients diagnosed with PCOS and 30 healthy controls, were enrolled in this study. Phoenixin-14, GAL, GALP, and spexin levels were measured in plasma samples.

Results: Although plasma phoenixin-14 levels in the PCOS group were significantly higher than those in the control group, spexin and GAL levels were significantly lower. No significant intergroup differences were observed in plasma GALP levels (p = 0.442). To distinguish PCOS from healthy controls, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of phoenixin-14 was 0.798, that of spexin was 0.757, and that of GAL was 0.702 (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.003, respectively). The AUC of the combined diagnostic value of the three peptides for PCOS was 0.910 (95%CI: 0.808-0.968) (p < 0.001), indicating a good diagnostic value.

Conclusions: Plasma phoenixin-14, spexin, and GAL levels differed between patients with PCOS and controls. When combined, the three peptides exhibited better predictive performance than the individual peptides.