Serum Visfatin, Vaspin, and Chemerin in the Pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Women in Kano

Emerging adipokines including visfatin, vaspin, and chemerin have been implicated in the metabolic and inflammatory aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome, yet their characterisation in Nigerian women is absent from the existing literature. This study investigates serum visfatin, vaspin, and chemerin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome compared to matched controls in Kano, North West Nigeria. A case-control design was adopted, with 80 women with Rotterdam criteria-confirmed PCOS and 80 age- and BMI-matched controls. Adipokines were measured by ELISA. Standard hormonal assays including LH, FSH, total testosterone, DHEAS, and prolactin were also performed. Insulin resistance was quantified by HOMA-IR, and metabolic profile including lipids and glucose was measured. Partial correlation analysis determined the independent associations between each adipokine and PCOS phenotype characteristics including ovarian morphology, androgen excess, and menstrual irregularity. Structural equation modelling explored the pathogenic role of adipokine dysregulation in linking adiposity to androgen excess. Findings will provide new biochemical insights into PCOS pathophysiology in a northern Nigerian population and will identify potential therapeutic targets. Keywords: visfatin, vaspin, chemerin, polycystic ovary syndrome, Kano.