Evaluation of endothelial function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies have suggested that vascular reactivity may be altered in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We sought to evaluate the vascular reactivity specifically the endothelial function (EF) in women with PCOS and to study the effect of metformin on their EF.


METHODS
Thirty-one women diagnosed with PCOS and 33 healthy controls underwent evaluation of EF using a post-ischemia reactive hyperemia technique (Endo-PAT). EF was quantitatively determined as the ratio between the arterial pulse wave amplitude following a 5min arterial occlusion in the forearm to the pre-occlusion value. Oral metformin 850mg bid was administered to PCOS patients. After 3 months of treatment EF was reassessed using the same technique.


RESULTS
The average endothelial function was 1.48+/-0.32 in the PCOS group versus 2.00+/-0.51 in the controls (P<0.001). There were no significant changes in the EF among the 18 patients who were treated with metformin, EF index pre- and post-treatment was 1.42 versus 1.43, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Endothelial dysfunction is more likely to occur among PCOS patients than in healthy controls. These preliminary results suggest that metformin treatment for 3 months in PCOS patients does not improve endothelial function.
Lowenstein
Lior
L
Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Health Care Campus & Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel. l_lior@rambam.health.gov.il
Damti
Amit
A
Pillar
Giora
G
Shott
Susan
S
Blumenfeld
Zeev
Z
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008365:Manometry; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010991:Plethysmography; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin