The chronic administration of cabergoline normalizes androgen secretion and improves menstrual cyclicity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the administration of the long-lasting dopaminergic drug, cabergoline, improves endocrine and clinical features of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).


METHODS
Twenty-nine women participated in the study: 14 women with clinical and endocrinologic features of PCOS and 15 age- and weight-matched normal cycling women. Each subject was assigned randomly to receive either a tablet of cabergoline at the dose of 0.5 mg/wk or placebo for 4 months. Sixteen subjects (PCOS: n = 8; controls: n = 8) received cabergoline, whereas 13 (PCOS: n = 6; controls: n = 7) received placebo.


METHODS
Both before and during the 4th month of treatment, blood samples were collected every 10 minutes from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., 3 to 7 days after spontaneous or medroxy-progesterone acetate (MPA; 5 mg daily for 5 days)-induced menses. Follicle-stimulating hormone and androgen levels were measured in the basal samples, whereas LH levels were measured in all samples.


METHODS
Menstrual cyclicity, LH pulsatility, and circulating levels of FSH, PRL, E2, total T, free T, androstenedione, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, DHEAS, and sex hormone-binding globulin.


RESULTS
Both in controls and in PCOS-affected women, cabergoline administration blunted plasma PRL levels without affecting LH pulsatility. Androgen levels were reduced in controls and normalized in PCOS. Cabergoline, but not placebo, induced menses reappearance in amenorrheic and a normalization of menstrual cyclicity in oligoamenorrheic women with PCOS.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of cabergoline is capable to normalize androgen levels and to improve menstrual cyclicity in PCOS-affected women. Cabergoline may represent an useful treatment for menstrual irregularities of PCOS patients.
Paoletti
A M
AM
Istituto di Ginecologia Ostetricia e Fisiopatologia della Riproduzione Umana, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Italy.
Cagnacci
A
A
Depau
G F
GF
Orrù
M
M
Ajossa
S
S
Melis
G B
GB
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077465:Cabergoline; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004873:Ergolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000728:Androgens; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004873:Ergolines; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D000077465:Cabergoline