Drug Therapy in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
November 2003
in “
Aap Grand Rounds
”
polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS hyperinsulinemic ovarian hyperandrogenism flutamide metformin insulin sensitivity androgen levels lipid levels ovulation rates fat mass abdominal fat mass lean body mass PCOS insulin sensitivity androgen levels lipid levels ovulation rates fat mass abdominal fat mass lean body mass
TLDR Low-dose flutamide-metformin therapy effectively improved PCOS symptoms in adolescent girls.
The document discusses a study conducted on thirty adolescent girls aged between 13.6 and 18.6 years with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or hyperinsulinemic ovarian hyperandrogenism. The study, which took place in Barcelona, Spain, evaluated the effects of a 1-year treatment with low-dose flutamide (125mg/day) and metformin (1,275mg/day). The participants were monitored for body composition, hormonal levels, insulin sensitivity, and ovulation. After a 3-month control period with no treatment, the 9-month treatment period resulted in significant improvements: insulin, androgen, and lipid levels decreased, the waist-hip ratio reduced, ovulation rates increased from 7% to 87%, fat mass decreased by 10% (with a 20% decrease in abdominal fat mass), and lean body mass increased with minimal net change in weight. The study concluded that low-dose flutamide-metformin therapy effectively attenuated a wide spectrum of abnormalities associated with PCOS, including excess fat mass and reduced lean mass.
