title: Insulin resistance improves in hyperandrogenic women treated with Lupron.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine if changes in insulin sensitivity and glucose effectiveness in women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) occurred after ovarian androgen suppression with a GnRH agonist, leuprolide acetate (LA, Lupron; TAP Pharmaceuticals, Deerfield, IL) using the minimal model method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients with PCOD were tested in the untreated state (baseline) and after 6 weeks of LA treatment. Subjects were divided into two groups based on the degree of impairment of their baseline insulin sensitivity index (SI; (min-1) (microU/mL-1): mild insulin resistance (SI > 1) or severe insulin resistance (SI < 1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all patients, serum T was significantly decreased from elevated baseline levels to normal female concentrations after 6 weeks of LA therapy. Insulin sensitivity in PCOD patients with mild insulin resistance significantly improved from baseline after 6 weeks of LA therapy, whereas no change in SI on LA therapy was seen in PCOD women with severe insulin resistance. Glucose utilization independent of increased insulin secretion did not change as a function of LA treatment in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate a significant improvement in SI in mildly insulin-resistant women with PCOD after suppression of ovarian function with LA treatment.
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Elkind-Hirsch
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Valdes
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Malinak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D013739:Testosterone; D016729:Leuprolide