['To examine the serum total renin in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and in controls.', 'Outpatient clinic of reproductive endocrinology at Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland.', 'Forty-four oligomenorrheic women with PCOS (body mass index [BMI] 18.0 to 49.0 kg/m2) and 25 control women with regular menstrual cycles (BMI 18.0 to 53.5 kg/m2).', 'The concentrations of total renin, LH, FSH, T, androstenedione (A), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and insulin in serum.', 'The concentration of total renin in serum was higher in PCOS women than in healthy women independently of BMI, age, or serum insulin. The serum total renin measurement discriminated PCOS patients and control women to a similar extent as the previously used hormonal parameters (LH:FSH, T, A, and T:SHBG) as judged by receiver-operating characteristic analysis. Positive correlations were found between the serum total renin level and LH concentration, LH:FSH ratio, T and A levels, and T:SHBG ratio. Analysis of serum total renin in PCOS patients during oligomenorrhea and after menstruation did not reveal any significant changes.'] Is serum total renin elevated in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome?