Elevated level of platelet factor 4 in follicular fluid is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: This present study aimed to measure platelet factor 4 (PF4) protein level in follicular fluid of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and analyzed the correlation between follicular PF4 level with clinical characteristics.

Methods: Sixty-seven women (36 PCOS patients vs. 31 non-PCOS women) were enrolled in the study. Follicular fluid PF4 level was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: The level of PF4 was significantly higher in follicular fluid of patients with PCOS than that of non-PCOS controls (50.5 (95 % CI: 42.8 to 115.86) ng/ml vs. 37.42 (95 % CI: 23.01 to 49.69) ng/ml, p < 0.001). Correlation analysis showed that the level of PF4 was positively related with serum anti-Mullerian hormone (r = 0.3809, p = 0.0015), serum testosterone (r = 0.3629, p = 0.0025), antral follicle count (r = 0.5544, p < 0.0001), and number of oocytes retrieved (r = 0.3799, p = 0.0018) in all patients. The area under the curve of PF4 level in follicular fluid to predict PCOS was 0.723 (95 % CI: 0.600 to 0.847).

Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the PF4 level was higher in the follicular fluid of patients with PCOS and was associated with key features of PCOS, suggesting that PF4 may play a role in the pathogenesis of PCOS.