CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF VISFATIN AS AN ADIPOCYTOKINE BIOMARKER IN WOMEN WITH OBESITY-ASSOCIATED ENDOMETRIAL PATHOLOGY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/24116-4944.2026.1.16380Keywords:
endometrium, hyperplasia, obesity, carcinoma, insulin resistenceAbstract
The aim of the study – to evaluate the prognostic significance and metabolic association of visfatin levels in women with endometrial pathology associated with obesity compared to women with normal body mass index (BMI).
Materials and Methods. A total of 103 patients were examined at the Multidisciplinary Medical Center of Odesa National Medical University. The participants were divided into the following groups: Іа – women with endometrial hyperplasia without atypia (n=39), Іb – atypical hyperplasia/EIN (n=9), ІІ – endometrial cancer (n=25), ІІІ – patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (n=16), and ІV – healthy women (n=14). The diagnosis was verified by histological examination of endometrial biopsy specimens and surgical materials.
Anthropometric assessment with BMI calculation was performed according to WHO criteria. Serum visfatin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Insulin resistance was assessed using the HOMA-IR index. Additionally, comorbidities (diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases) were analyzed to evaluate their association with visfatin levels and morphofunctional changes of the endometrium.
Results and Discussion. Body weight and BMI in clinical groups exceeded those in the control group, showing a tendency toward obesity. Visfatin levels demonstrated high variability without clear intergroup differences; however, they increased with the degree of obesity in patients with endometrial hyperplasia (p=0.028). The highest HOMA-IR values were observed in the PCOS group, indicating pronounced insulin resistance. A significant association was found between elevated visfatin levels and diabetes mellitus (p=0.003), along with a trend toward increased hypertension risk in obese patients. These findings confirm the role of metabolic disturbances in endometrial pathology and highlight visfatin (NAMPT) as a marker associated with obesity and metabolic imbalance.
Conclusions. Endometrial pathology is associated with obesity and insulin resistance as key metabolic factors. Visfatin levels show considerable variability but tend to increase with higher degrees of obesity, particularly in hyperplastic processes. A significant association with diabetes mellitus was established. These results suggest that visfatin may be considered a potential biomarker of metabolically associated endometrial alterations.
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