Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 6, 1210-1218,
June 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Selective effects of pioglitazone on insulin and androgen abnormalities in normo- and hyperinsulinaemic obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo ‘A. Gemelli’ 8, 00168 Roma and 2 OASI Institute for Research, Troina, Italy
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: alanzone{at}rm.unicatt.it
BACKGROUND: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of pioglitazone (45 mg/day) on clinical and endocrine-metabolic features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), we studied 18 obese PCOS patients, classified as normoinsulinaemic (N-PCOS, n = 6) and hyperinsulinaemic (H-PCOS, n = 12) according to their insulin secretion. METHODS: Evaluation of clinical signs, hormonal and lipid profile assays, oral glucose tolerance tests and euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamps were performed at baseline and after 2 (visit 2), 4 (visit 3) and 6 (visit 4) months of treatment. RESULTS: Body weight, body fat distribution and blood pressure remained stable throughout the treatment; hirsutism and acne significantly improved (P < 0.001 for visits 3 and 4 versus baseline) in both groups. A restoration of menstrual cyclicity was observed at visit 4 in 83% (P < 0.001) of H-PCOS and in 33% of N-PCOS. A decrease in LH, LH/FSH ratio, androstenedione and 17-hydroxy-progesterone was observed in both groups, attaining statistical significance in H-PCOS. A significant amelioration of insulin secretion, sensitivity and clearance was obtained in H-PCOS. A trend towards improvement was observed in lipid assessment of both groups. Therapy was well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Present data suggest that there is a selective effect, partially independent of insulin secretion, of pioglitazone on the clinical and hormonal disturbances of PCOS.
Key words: androgens/insulin/obesity/PCOS/pioglitazone
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  E. Aigner, N. Bachofner, K. Klein, C. De Geyter, F. Hohla, W. Patsch, and C. Datz Retinol-Binding Protein 4 in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome--Association with Steroid Hormones and Response to Pioglitazone Treatment J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2009; 94(4): 1229 - 1235. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Ibanez, A. Lopez-Bermejo, L. del Rio, G. Enriquez, C. Valls, and F. de Zegher Combined Low-Dose Pioglitazone, Flutamide, and Metformin for Women with Androgen Excess J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2007; 92(5): 1710 - 1714. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Pasquali and A. Gambineri Insulin-sensitizing agents in polycystic ovary syndrome. Eur. J. Endocrinol., June 1, 2006; 154(6): 763 - 775. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. A. Cataldo, F. Abbasi, T. L. McLaughlin, M. Basina, P. Y. Fechner, L. C. Giudice, and G. M. Reaven Metabolic and ovarian effects of rosiglitazone treatment for 12 weeks in insulin-resistant women with polycystic ovary syndrome Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2006; 21(1): 109 - 120. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Lemay, S. Dodin, L. Turcot, F. Dechene, and J-C. Forest Rosiglitazone and ethinyl estradiol/cyproterone acetate as single and combined treatment of overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2006; 21(1): 121 - 128. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Glintborg, R. K. Stoving, C. Hagen, A. P. Hermann, J. Frystyk, J. D. Veldhuis, A. Flyvbjerg, and M. Andersen Pioglitazone Treatment Increases Spontaneous Growth Hormone (GH) Secretion and Stimulated GH Levels in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2005; 90(10): 5605 - 5612. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. F. Escobar-Morreale, M. Luque-Ramirez, and J. L. San Millan The Molecular-Genetic Basis of Functional Hyperandrogenism and the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Endocr. Rev., April 1, 2005; 26(2): 251 - 282. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. A. Ehrmann Polycystic Ovary Syndrome N. Engl. J. Med., March 24, 2005; 352(12): 1223 - 1236. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Ortega-Gonzalez, S. Luna, L. Hernandez, G. Crespo, P. Aguayo, G. Arteaga-Troncoso, and A. Parra Responses of Serum Androgen and Insulin Resistance to Metformin and Pioglitazone in Obese, Insulin-Resistant Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2005; 90(3): 1360 - 1365. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. Sepilian and M. Nagamani Effects of Rosiglitazone in Obese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Severe Insulin Resistance J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2005; 90(1): 60 - 65. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Brettenthaler, C. De Geyter, P. R. Huber, and U. Keller Effect of the Insulin Sensitizer Pioglitazone on Insulin Resistance, Hyperandrogenism, and Ovulatory Dysfunction in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2004; 89(8): 3835 - 3840. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. J. Salmi, H. C. Zisser, and L. Jovanovic Screening for and Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Teenagers Experimental Biology and Medicine, May 1, 2004; 229(5): 369 - 377. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Guido, D. Romualdi, R. Suriano, M. Giuliani, B. Costantini, R. Apa, and A. Lanzone Effect of pioglitazone treatment on the adrenal androgen response to corticotrophin in obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2004; 19(3): 534 - 539. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. T. Sheehan Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Diagnosis and Management Clin. Med. Res., February 1, 2004; 2(1): 13 - 27. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. De Leo, A. la Marca, and F. Petraglia Insulin-Lowering Agents in the Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2003; 24(5): 633 - 667. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. L. Sharpless Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and the Metabolic Syndrome Clin. Diabetes, October 1, 2003; 21(4): 154 - 161. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|