Serum Chemerin May Predict Risk for Spontaneous Abortion in Women With PCOS

Higher levels of serum chimerin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be associated with a higher risk for spontaneous abortion, according to a study published in Gynecological Endocrinology.

Researchers conducted a prospective study from May 2015 to December 2016 in China on 58 pregnant women with PCOS to evaluate whether there was a relationship between serum chemerin levels and the incidence of spontaneous abortions in women with PCOS.

The women were later placed into 1 of 2 groups (normal or abortion) on the basis of their clinical outcomes.

A total of 30 women had a normal pregnancy, and 28 had a spontaneous early abortion. The study did not find any significant differences between groups in fasting plasma glucose, total count, high-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels. There were also no differences observed in the mean serum level ratios of follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone (P <.05).

Women with a higher body mass index later progressed to a spontaneous abortion compared with those who had a normal pregnancy (23.52±1.70 kg/m² and 22.05±1.37 kg/m²; P <.05, respectively). There was a statistically significant association between higher levels of homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance in women who experienced a spontaneous abortion compared with those with a normal pregnancy (P <.05). Finally, serum concentration levels in women who experienced an abortion were significantly higher than in women who experienced a normal pregnancy (247.01±80.04 ng/mL and 198.65±83.32 ng/mL; P <.05, respectively).

Researchers concluded that there was a positively associated risk with higher levels of chemerin and the risk for spontaneous abortion in women with PCOS (P <.001). Also, body mass index, fasting insulin, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance were found to be positively associated with the risk for spontaneous abortion (P < .05). Clinicians should consider using chemerin as a potential predictability test to assess the subsequent risk for spontaneous abortion in women with PCOS.

Reference

Yang X, Quan X, Lan Y, et al. Serum chemerin level in women with PCOS and its relation with the risk of spontaneous abortion [published online April 16, 2018]. Gynecol Endocrinol. doi: 10.1080/09513590.2018.1462316