Plasma Renin Activity in Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Ayşe GÜRBÜZ, Ateş KARATEKE, Nurettin SERİNKAN, Canan KABACA, Zeki ŞAHİNOĞLU
İstanbul-Turkey

OBJECTİVE: To determine whether active renin concentration is associated with insulin and androgen levels in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and whether active renin can be useful in diagnosis of PCOS.
STUDY DESİGN: This study was conducted in the outpatient clinic of reproductive endocrinology of Zeynep Kamil Hospital. Twenty four women with oligomenorrhea and with diagnosis of PCOS made up the study group and 18 women with normal menstrual cycle and ratio of luteinizing hormone (LH)/ follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) made up the control group. The concentrations of LH, insulin, androstenedion, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), testesteron and active renin levels in plasma and LH/FSH ratio were recorded.
RESULTS: Basal LH, insulin, DHEA-S, androstenedion, testesteron and active renin levels and LH/FSH ratio were significantly higher in the PCOS group when compared with the control group (p<0.05, for all parameters). When the total group was evaluated, there were significant positive correlations between plasma renin activity and LH, LH/FSH ratio, insulin, androstenedion and testesteron levels. No correlations were detected between plasma active renin and body mass index (BMI). There were significant correlations between insulin and BMI, serum testesteron and androstenedion levels. No correlations were detected between plasma insulin level when compared to LH, FSH or LH/FSH ratio. An active renin level of 2.8 ng/ml/h was determined as the threshold level in diagnosis of PCOS with sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictivite values as 83%, 87%, 95%, 73%, respectively.
CONCLUSİONS: Plasma active renin level can be used as an additional diagnostic marker in cases with suspicion of PCOS and active renin level of 2.8 ng/ml/h may be helpful in diagnosis of PCOS in equivocal cases.
(Gynecol Obstet Reprod Med 2005; 11:34-36)

Key Words: Renin, Polycystic ovarian syndrome, Insulin, Renin activity