Plasma Prolidase Level is a Reliable Biomarker to Predict Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Author(s): Akhter M, Rahman AKMS, Patwary T, Jahan LI, Tasnim R, Begum R, Yesmin MS, Ferdoushi S, Islam MS, Selim S, Paul D

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by a combination of signs and symptoms of androgen excess and ovarian dysfunction. Plasma prolidase is a member of matrix metallo-proteinase family, which is altered during extracellular matrix remodeling of ovary. Evaluation of plasma prolidase level may be helpful in diagnosis of PCOS.

Objective: To evaluate the role of plasma prolidase in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Laboratory medicine Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh, from March 2021 to February 2022. A total of 70 study subjects were selected by purposive sampling technique. Among them 35 were diagnosed patients of PCOS (group I) and 35 were healthy individuals as control subjects (group II). All study subjects were evaluated by history, physical examination and relevant investigations. Their plasma prolidase levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) following standard procedure. Data were analyzed and compared by statistical tests.

Results: The median plasma prolidase level was 620.0 U/L in Group I and that was 440 U/L in group II. It was observed that plasma prolidase level was significantly high in group I as compared to group II (p<0.001). In receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) curve analysis; cut-off value of plasma prolidase for PCOS patients was found 505U/L with sensitivity and specificity were 91.4% and 74.3% respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of plasma prolidase was 0.865 (95% CI: 0.8832-0.9702).

Conclusion: Plasma prolidase level is significantly higher in PCOS patients than healthy individuals. A cut-off value of plasma prolidase for Bangladeshi PCOS patients is 505 U/L with significant sensitivity and specificity. Therefore plasma prolidase level ma