Increased 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: To determine melatonin production in hyperandrogenic women. Design: Controlled prospective study. Setting: Outpatients in an academic medical center. Patient(s): Twenty-two women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), 20 wome n with idiopathic hirsutism, and 15 age-matched individuals who had similar body mass indexes as controls. Intervention(s): Fasting blood samples and 24-hour urinary samples were obt ained from all participants. Main Outcome Measure(s): All participants provided serum samples for the me asurement of LH, FSH, testosterone, E-2, DHEAS, 17 alpha -hydroxyprogestero ne (17-OHP), and insulin levels, as well as urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (a MT6s). Result(s). Women with PCOS had higher aMT6s, testosterone, LH/FSH ratio, an d insulin values than either women with idiopathic hirsutism or control wom en. Testosterone inversely correlated with aMT6s in PCOS. Regression analys is revealed that only testosterone was an important determinant of aMT6s in PCOS. Conclusion(s): Women with PCOS have increased melatonin production. (Fertil Steril(R) 2001;76:506-10. (C) 2001 by American Society for Reproductive Me dicine.).