Effect of hypertension therapy with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor lisinopril on hyperandrogenism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, lisinopril, on serum androgen and sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels in hypertensive women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
DESIGN: Prospective, observational study.
SETTING: Infertility Clinic of the Sani Konukoglu Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey. PATIENT(S): Ten hypertensive women with PCOS. INTERVENTION(S): Lisinopril, 10 mg/day, for 4 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)): Serum levels of gonadotropins, DHEAS, total T, free T, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione, E2, SHBG, TSH, and PRL were determined. RESULT(S): Hypertension treatment with lisinopril (10 mg/day for 4 weeks) resulted in a statistically significant decrease in serum free T levels. However, there was no difference in the SHBG levels. CONCLUSION(S): Use of lisinopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, results in decreased free T levels independently of SHBG. It may affect the free T levels by affecting the ovarian renin-angiotensin system.