Is Prostate-Specific Antigen a Potential New Marker of Androgen Excess in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

In the 2007 study by Vural, Özkan, and Bodur involving 43 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 43 age-matched healthy females, it was found that serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group (0.026 ± 0.023 ng/mL) compared to the control group (0.009 ± 0.008 ng/mL). Women with PCOS also had higher body mass index, waist/hip ratio, Ferriman-Gallwey scores, luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, insulin resistance, serum triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein levels, total testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels. Positive correlations were observed between PSA levels and other markers of hyperandrogenism, while a negative correlation was found between sex hormone-binding globulin and PSA. The study concluded that PSA could be a promising marker of androgen excess in females with PCOS.