An observational study in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Pediatric Obesity, sponsored by Kayseri City Hospital. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to female participants aged 10 Years to 18 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-30.
Sponsored by Kayseri City Hospital · Observational
This single-center, prospective, observational, cross-sectional mechanistic pilot study will evaluate whether polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) contributes to hepatic steatosis in adolescent girls independently of adiposity. A total of 150 girls aged 10-18 years will be enrolled into three groups of 50: girls with PCOS and obesity, age- and body mass index-matched girls with obesity but without PCOS, and healthy normal-weight girls. Each participant will undergo a single evaluation comprising anthropometry, clinical and biochemical phenotyping, transient elastography with controlled attenuation parameter and two-dimensional shear wave elastography, and a single venous blood sample.
An extended biomarker panel will be measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Fetuin-A, fibroblast growth factor 21, adiponectin, visfatin, cytokeratin-18 M30 and M65, soluble CD163, growth differentiation factor 15, 11-ketotestosterone, and 11beta-hydroxyandrostenedione), together with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry measurement of testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin, and genotyping of PNPLA3 rs738409 and HSD17B13 rs72613567. The primary objective is to compare hepatic steatosis and the hepatokine/adipokine profile between the PCOS with obesity group and the adiposity-matched obesity control group, adjusting for body mass index z-score, insulin resistance, and free androgen index. No therapeutic intervention is assigned by the study protocol.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver condition of childhood and is closely linked to obesity and insulin resistance. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) frequently co-occurs with obesity in adolescent girls, and hyperandrogenism has been proposed as an additional hepatic insult. Because obesity is a powerful confounder, the independent contribution of hyperandrogenism to hepatic steatosis in adolescents remains poorly defined.
This study will be conducted at the Departments of Pediatric, Departments of Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical Biochemistry, Medical Genetics, and Pediatric Radiology of Kayseri City Hospital, Kayseri, Türkiye. Participants will be allocated to three predefined groups. Group 1 comprises girls with PCOS and obesity, diagnosed according to adolescent-adapted Rotterdam criteria requiring both hyperandrogenism and oligo-anovulation, with a body mass index at or above the 95th percentile. Group 2 comprises girls with obesity without features of PCOS, matched to Group 1 for age and body mass index. Group 3 comprises healthy normal-weight girls between the 5th and 84th body mass index percentiles.
The central comparison is Group 1 versus Group 2, which equalises adiposity and therefore isolates the contribution of hyperandrogenism. Hierarchical regression models will additionally adjust for body mass index z-score, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and free androgen index. Hepatic steatosis will be quantified by the controlled attenuation parameter obtained during vibration-controlled transient elastography; liver stiffness will be assessed by vibration-controlled transient elastography and two-dimensional shear wave elastography.
A single venous blood sample will be obtained at the study visit. Serum will be separated and stored at minus 80 degrees Celsius until batch analysis, and genomic DNA will be isolated for TaqMan single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping of PNPLA3 rs738409 and HSD17B13 rs72613567. All enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits will be procured as a single lot, and intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation together with spike-recovery validation will be documented for each kit.
Data will be recorded in a REDCap electronic case report form in accordance with ALCOA+ principles. The study is exploratory and is designed to generate effect-size and variance estimates for a subsequent validation study. Reporting will follow the STROBE statement, and non-invasive diagnostic performance analyses will follow the STARD 2015 statement. The study is also referred to as COMPASS-PedPCOS in institutional, ethics committee and funding documents.
956 studies on the registry are indexed under Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; 176 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 150 is above the median of 118 across 223 observational studies indexed under Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
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Adolescent girls aged 10 to 18 years presenting to the Departments of Pediatric Endocrinology and Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology of Kayseri City Hospital, Kayseri, Türkiye. The study population comprises girls with polycystic ovary syndrome and obesity, girls with obesity without polycystic ovary syndrome matched for age and body mass index, and healthy normal-weight girls. Participants will be enrolled prospectively by consecutive sampling of eligible admissions.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Autoimmune disease
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
PCOS With Obesity (n=50) - Girls aged 10-18 years meeting adolescent-adapted Rotterdam criteria (both hyperandrogenism and oligo-anovulation required) with body mass index at or above the 95th percentile.
Diagnostic Test: Extended Serum Biomarker and Hormonal Panel · Diagnostic Test: Liver Elastography with Controlled Attenuation Parameter · Genetic: Targeted Genotyping of PNPLA3 rs738409 and HSD17B13 rs72613567
Obesity Control (n=50) - Girls with body mass index at or above the 95th percentile without features of PCOS, matched to Group 1 for age and body mass index.
Diagnostic Test: Extended Serum Biomarker and Hormonal Panel · Diagnostic Test: Liver Elastography with Controlled Attenuation Parameter · Genetic: Targeted Genotyping of PNPLA3 rs738409 and HSD17B13 rs72613567
Healthy Control (n=50) - Girls aged 10-18 years meeting adolescent, Healthy normal-weight girls (body mass index 5th-84th percentile) without chronic disease, hyperandrogenism, or menstrual irregularity.
Diagnostic Test: Extended Serum Biomarker and Hormonal Panel · Diagnostic Test: Liver Elastography with Controlled Attenuation Parameter · Genetic: Targeted Genotyping of PNPLA3 rs738409 and HSD17B13 rs72613567
A single fasting venous blood sample is obtained at the study visit. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measurement of Fetuin-A, fibroblast growth factor 21, adiponectin, visfatin, cytokeratin-18 M30, cytokeratin-18 M65, soluble CD163, growth differentiation factor 15, 11-ketotestosterone and 11beta-hydroxyandrostenedione is performed. Total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin are measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Routine biochemistry and hormonal profiling are performed from the same sample. Observational only; no therapeutic agent is administered.
Hepatic steatosis and liver stiffness are assessed non-invasively at the same study visit. Vibration-controlled transient elastography with controlled attenuation parameter yields attenuation (dB/m) and stiffness (kPa) values; two-dimensional shear wave elastography provides an independent stiffness estimate. Predefined validity criteria are applied to all acquisitions. No sedation, contrast agent or ionizing radiation is used; the procedure is observational.
Genomic DNA is isolated from the same single venous blood sample; no additional venipuncture is required. TaqMan allelic discrimination assays are used for genotyping of PNPLA3 rs738409 and HSD17B13 rs72613567. Genotype call rate and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium are reported. Genotyping is performed for research purposes only; results are not used to guide clinical management.
Hepatic Steatosis Measured by Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP)
Controlled attenuation parameter obtained during vibration-controlled transient elastography, compared between girls with PCOS and obesity and adiposity-matched girls with obesity, and across all three study groups, with adjustment for body mass index z-score, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and free androgen index. Unit of measure: dB/m.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit)
Serum Fetuin-A Concentration
Serum Fetuin-A measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared across the three study groups with adjustment for body mass index z-score, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and free androgen index. Unit of measure: µg/mL.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit)
Serum Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF-21) Concentration
Serum FGF-21 measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared across the three study groups with adjustment for body mass index z-score, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and free androgen index. Unit of measure: pg/mL.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit)
Serum Adiponectin Concentration
Serum adiponectin measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared across the three study groups with adjustment for body mass index z-score, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and free androgen index. Unit of measure: µg/mL.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit)
Serum Visfatin Concentration
Serum visfatin measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared across the three study groups with adjustment for body mass index z-score, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and free androgen index. Unit of measure: ng/mL.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit)
Serum Soluble CD163 Concentration
Serum soluble CD163, a marker of macrophage activation, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared across the three study groups; evaluated as a candidate mediator of the association between hyperandrogenism and hepatic steatosis. Unit of measure: ng/mL.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit)
Serum Cytokeratin-18 M30 and M65 Concentrations
Serum cytokeratin-18 M30 (apoptotic fragment) and M65 (total cell death) measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared across the three study groups to characterise the mode of hepatocyte death. Unit of measure: U/L for each analyte.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit)
Liver Stiffness Measurement
Liver stiffness assessed by vibration-controlled transient elastography and by two-dimensional shear wave elastography, compared across the three study groups. Unit of measure: kPa.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit)
Discriminatory Performance of the Biomarker Panel for Hepatic Steatosis
Receiver operating characteristic analysis of individual biomarkers and of a composite preliminary risk score for the identification of hepatic steatosis. Measures include area under the receiver operating characteristic curve with 95% confidence intervals, sensitivity, and specificity at the Youden index.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit)
Serum Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15) Concentration
Serum GDF-15, a marker of mitochondrial stress, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared across the three study groups. Unit of measure: pg/mL.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit)
Serum 11-Oxygenated Androgen Concentrations
Serum 11-ketotestosterone and 11beta-hydroxyandrostenedione measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and evaluated for association with hepatic steatosis measures independently of body mass index and insulin resistance. Unit of measure: ng/dL for each analyte.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit)
PNPLA3 rs738409 and HSD17B13 rs72613567 Genotype Distribution and Gene-Gene Interaction
Genotype frequencies of PNPLA3 rs738409 and HSD17B13 rs72613567 determined by TaqMan assay, and evaluation of gene-gene interaction with respect to hepatic steatosis measures. Measure: genotype counts and interaction estimates; Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium will be assessed.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit)
Plan to share: Yes — De-identified individual participant data underlying the published results, including clinical, anthropometric, biochemical, biomarker, and imaging variables, will be available from the principal investigator upon reasonable request. Individual-level genotype data will be shared only in aggregate form, or in de-identified individual-level form where explicitly permitted by the participant consent and the ethics approval, in accordance with applicable national legislation on special categories of personal data. Requests will be evaluated for scientific merit and consistency with the original ethics approval, and a data-use agreement will be required.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan, Informed consent form, Analytic code
Time frame: Data will become available after publication of the main results and will remain available for 5 years thereafter, upon reasonable request to the principal investigator.
Access criteria: Qualified researchers from recognised academic institutions may request access by contacting the principal investigator with a methodologically sound proposal. Requests will be reviewed by the study team for scientific merit and for consistency with the original ethics approval and participant consent. A signed data-use agreement is required before any de-identified data are released.
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Kayseri City Hospital