Thrombin Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor and Other Hemostatic Parameters in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

In a study from 2006 to 2007 involving 48 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 43 controls, it was found that PCOS patients had significantly higher levels of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) at 93.8% ± 30.6% compared to 79.8% ± 22.4% in controls. Other hemostatic parameters such as D-dimer, antithrombin III, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and thrombomodulin were also elevated in the PCOS group. No significant differences were observed in thrombin-antithrombin complexes, Protein C, activated protein C, and Protein S between the two groups. The study suggested an increased cardiovascular risk in women with PCOS due to these elevated hemostatic factors. Additionally, significant correlations were found between TAFI levels and BMI, PAI-1, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, and total cholesterol, with a negative correlation with HDL-C. The study was limited by its small sample size and was funded by Süleyman Demirel University's Department of Scientific Research Project Management.