Background: Hirsutism is a common clinical condition encountered in day‐to‐day
practice. The androgenic causes account for more than 80% of these patients and
include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which affects about 70%‐80% of hirsute
women. The second most common cause is idiopathic hirsutism. Omentin‐1 is an
adipokine mainly produced by visceral adipose tissue.
Aim: The current study aimed at evaluating omentin‐1 levels in hirsute females with
PCOS and in idiopathic hirsutism.
Patients and Methods: Eighty‐five females were included in this study. They were
classified into three groups: thirty hirsute patients with PCOS, thirty females with
idiopathic hirsutism, and twenty‐five healthy control females. The participants were
subjected to history taking, physical and dermatological examination. A gynecological
history and radiological examination of the ovary also were done. Serum testosterone
and omentin‐1 were measured by ELISA.
Results: Serum testosterone was statistically elevated in PCOS than other groups.
Serum omentin‐1 in females with idiopathic hirsutism was statistically significantly
higher than control and PCOS. There was a significant inverse correlation between
serum testosterone level and serum omentin‐1 level.
Conclusion: Omentin‐1 may be involved in the pathogenic process of hirsutism.