Diagnostic value of serum miR-101-3p combined with Doppler ultrasound in polycystic ovarian syndrome: a retrospective study

Background Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder with limited diagnostic biomarkers. miR-101-3p is implicated in endocrine regulation and ovarian function, with emerging evidence suggesting its potential as a biomarker for reproductive disorders. This study aimed to explore the diagnostic value of combined detection of serum miR-101-3p and colour Doppler ultrasound parameters for PCOS.Methods A total of 186 study subjects were enrolled, with samples collected from April 2020 to June 2023. miR-101-3p expression was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The Doppler parameters of the ovary were detected by colour Doppler ultrasound. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to verify the normality of continuous variables, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of single indicators and their combined panel, with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant.Results Serum miR-101-3p expression was significantly downregulated in PCOS patients compared with the control group (P < 0.001). In PCOS patients, ovarian volume was significantly elevated (P < 0.01), while pulsatility index and resistive index were significantly decreased (both P < 0.05). Additionally, low serum miR-101-3p levels were closely correlated with high luteinising hormone levels in PCOS patients (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis indicated that the combined panel of miR-101-3p and Doppler parameters achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.947, with a sensitivity of 90.4% and specificity of 85.4%, showing significantly superior diagnostic performance over any single indicator (all P < 0.05).Conclusions In conclusion, combined detection of serum miR-101-3p and ovarian Doppler parameters exhibits improved diagnostic efficacy for PCOS, representing a promising auxiliary clinical strategy.