Ovulation induction in clomiphene-resistant anovulatory women with normal dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels: beneficial effects of the addition of dexamethasone during the follicular phase.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect on ovulation of a 10-day course of dexamethasone (DEX) initiated concurrently with a 5-day course of clomiphene citrate (CC) in CC-resistant patients with normal DHEAS levels.


METHODS
Retrospective review.


METHODS
Patients from the clinical practice of the authors at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia.


METHODS
Thirteen oligomenorrheic women with normal DHEAS levels who failed to ovulate on a graduated regimen of CC up to a dose of 150 mg for 5 days.


METHODS
Ten-day course of DEX initiated concurrently with a 5-day course of CC; ovulation and pregnancy outcomes recorded.


METHODS
Pregnancy.


RESULTS
Eleven of 13 women had evidence of ovulation. Five clinical pregnancies were achieved.


CONCLUSIONS
These initial data support improvements in follicular development with an overlapping follicular phase regimen of CC and DEX in patients with normal DHEAS levels and a previous poor response.
Trott
E A
EA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912, USA.
Plouffe
L
L
Hansen
K
K
Hines
R
R
Brann
D W
DW
Mahesh
V B
VB
D000328:Adult; D000858:Anovulation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D002996:Clomiphene; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D003907:Dexamethasone