A study in Sri Lankan women found that those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have higher blood levels of the peptide kisspeptin compared to women without PCOS, regardless of their body weight. The researchers suggest kisspeptin could be used as a marker to help identify PCOS early, especially in teens.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the commonest endocrine disorder affecting young women. Kisspeptins are a family of closely related peptides encoded by Kiss1 gene that controls the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis by binding to its receptor (GPR54) expressed in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons and releases GnRH. Since GnRH secretion is deregulated in PCOS, we hypothesized that dysregulated gonadotropin secretion in PCOS is reflected by kisspeptin levels. We aimed to measure serum kisspeptin levels of subjects with well-characterized PCOS versus controls and explore any correlation between kisspeptin and PCOS-related reproductive and metabolic disturbances. : Consecutive women with PCOS manifesting from adolescence (n = 55) and adult controls (n = 110) were recruited. Pre-treatment baseline clinical, anthropometry, and biochemical parameters were measured in all. Serum kisspeptin and testosterone levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. : Serum kisspeptin and testosterone concentrations were significantly higher in women with PCOS (kisspeptin 4.873 nmol/L; testosterone 4.713 nmol/L) than controls (kisspeptin 4.127 nmol/L; testosterone 3.415 nmol/L; P < 0.05). Serum kisspeptin levels were positively associated with PCOS (odds ratio: 1.853; 95% confidence interval: 1.246-2.755; P = 0.002) in our studied population. Serum kisspeptin levels are higher in Sri Lankan women with PCOS manifesting from adolescence compared with controls regardless of body mass index. We propose serum kisspeptin concentration as a useful marker to recognize PCOS that manifests from adolescence.