Circulating CTRP-1 levels are elevated in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A case–control study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate circulating C1q/TNF-related protein-1 (CTRP-1) levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and evaluate its potential association with metabolic and reproductive features of the syndrome. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional case-control study was conducted between October 2021 and March 2022 including 96 women (48 with PCOS and 48 controls) aged 15-40 years. PCOS was diagnosed according to the 2003 Rotterdam criteria. Anthropometric measurements and fasting venous blood samples were obtained during the early follicular phase. Serum CTRP-1 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Metabolic and hormonal parameters, including HOMA-IR, AMH, and androgen levels, were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI) were performed. RESULTS: Serum CTRP-1 levels were significantly higher in women with PCOS compared with controls (54.9 ± 5.2 vs. 26.6 ± 4.8 ng/mL, p < 0.001). CTRP-1 concentrations were associated with several metabolic and hormonal parameters, including BMI, fasting insulin, triglyceride levels, HDL cholesterol, and AMH. ROC curve analysis demonstrated excellent discriminatory ability within this cohort, although these findings should be interpreted cautiously given the relatively small sample size and case-control design. In multivariable analysis adjusting for age and BMI, CTRP-1 remained independently associated with PCOS (β = 28.97, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Circulating CTRP-1 levels are elevated in women with PCOS and appear to be associated with both metabolic and reproductive characteristics of the syndrome. CTRP-1 may represent a potential biomarker related to metabolic dysregulation in PCOS; however, larger prospective and multicenter studies are required to validate its clinical and diagnostic utility.