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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on January 29, 2004
Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/deh103
© 2004 by European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
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Received May 28, 2003
Revised September 26, 2003
Accepted October 24, 2003

Article

Six-month treatment with low-dose dexamethasone further reduces androgen levels in PCOS women treated with diet and lifestyle advice, and metformin

E. Vanky 1*, K.Å. Salvesen 1, and S.M. Carlsen 2

1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St Olavs Hospital, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
2 Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, St Olavs Hospital, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: eszter.vanky{at}medisin.ntnu.no.


  Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of low-dose dexamethasone on androgen levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) treated with diet and lifestyle counselling, and metformin. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out. Thirty-eight women with PCOS were randomized to either dexamethasone 0.25 mg daily or placebo for 26 weeks. All received diet and lifestyle counselling at inclusion and metformin 850 mg three times daily during the whole study. Main outcome measures were: androgen levels, body mass index (BMI), insulin c-peptide, fasting glucose and serum lipids. Two-tailed t-tests and Pearson’s statistics were used. RESULTS: Compared with the placebo, dexamethasone reduced testosterone by 27%, androstenedione by 21%, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate by 46% and free testosterone index by 50% in women with PCOS treated with diet and lifestyle advice, and metformin. BMI, fasting glucose, insulin c-peptide and serum lipid levels were unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: Six-month, low-dose dexamethasone treatment further reduces androgen levels in metformin-treated PCOS women.

Key words: Key words: androgens/dexamethasone/metformin/PCOS


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