Gaspare Stabile1, Irene Borrielli2, Alfredo Carducci Artenisio1, Lucia Maria Bruno1, Salvatore Benvenga1, Loretta Giunta1, Antonio La Marca3, Annibale Volpe3, Alfonsa Pizzo4. 1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy. 2. Department of Pediatric, Gynecological, Microbiological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy. Electronic address: ireneborrielli@libero.it. 3. Mother-Infant Department, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41100 Modena, Italy. 4. Department of Pediatric, Gynecological, Microbiological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine cause of menstrual irregularities, hirsutism and acne. Women with PCOS present elevated plasma insulin levels, both fasting and after a glucose load, as an indirect evidence of insulin resistance. PCOS women may also present hypertension, low levels of HDL cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, visceral obesity and a higher level of CRP and fibrinogen that can predict an atherosclerotic risk. METHODS: This study was carried out on 15 young women with PCOS selected according to the 2003 diagnostic criteria of The Rotterdam Consensus Statement and 15 Control women. PCOS women were treated with pioglitazone 30 mg/day and at the beginning and after 6 months of treatment were evaluated: menstrual cycle trend, hirsutism and acne, total cholesterolemia and HDL, triglyceridemia, fibrinogenemia, C-reactive protein, oral glucose tolerance test, glycated hemoglobin, FSH, LH, 17OH-progesterone, 17β-estradiol, free and total testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S, Δ4-androstenedione and adiponectin. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Treatment with pioglitazone improves the irregularities of menses and hirsutism. Six months of treatment modify other parameters linked with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases: adiponectin increased with reduction of insulin resistance while fibrinogen and CRP levels decreased.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine cause of menstrual irregularities, hirsutism and acne. Women with PCOS present elevated plasma insulin levels, both fasting and after a glucose load, as an indirect evidence of insulin resistance. PCOSwomen may also present hypertension, low levels of HDL cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, visceral obesity and a higher level of CRP and fibrinogen that can predict an atherosclerotic risk. METHODS: This study was carried out on 15 young women with PCOS selected according to the 2003 diagnostic criteria of The Rotterdam Consensus Statement and 15 Control women. PCOSwomen were treated with pioglitazone 30 mg/day and at the beginning and after 6 months of treatment were evaluated: menstrual cycle trend, hirsutism and acne, total cholesterolemia and HDL, triglyceridemia, fibrinogenemia, C-reactive protein, oral glucose tolerance test, glycated hemoglobin, FSH, LH, 17OH-progesterone, 17β-estradiol, free and total testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S, Δ4-androstenedione and adiponectin. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Treatment with pioglitazone improves the irregularities of menses and hirsutism. Six months of treatment modify other parameters linked with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases: adiponectin increased with reduction of insulin resistance while fibrinogen and CRP levels decreased.