The effects of oral contraceptives including low-dose estrogen and drospirenone on the concentration of leptin and ghrelin in polycystic ovary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate short-term leptin and ghrelin concentrations in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who use low-dose oral contraceptives containing drospirenone.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Department of obstetrics and gynaecology in a university hospital.


METHODS
Twenty women with PCOS were enrolled in the study.


METHODS
A low-dose oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone was given for three cycles.


METHODS
Serum androstenedione, free T, T, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, sex hormone-binding globulin, FSH, LH, E(2), lipid profiles, leptin, and ghrelin levels were measured in each subject. Insulin resistance was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).


RESULTS
While leptin concentrations did not change with therapy, ghrelin levels increased statistically. Baseline leptin concentrations were correlated positively with body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, insulin, and HOMA-IR and negatively with ghrelin. After controlling for body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio in a partial correlation analysis, leptin levels were not correlated with these parameters. Ghrelin was inversely correlated with body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, insulin, HOMA-IR, and free T.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with PCOS, an oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone increases ghrelin levels but not leptin levels in a 3-month period. Ghrelin might be related to the metabolic and androgenic changes in patients with PCOS.
Sağsöz
Nevin
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kirikkale University Faculty of Medicine, Kirikkale, Turkey. nevinsagsoz@yahoo.com
Orbak
Zerrin
Z
Noyan
Volkan
V
Yücel
Aykan
A
Uçar
Banu
B
Yildiz
Leyla
L
D000328:Adult; D000736:Androstenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000736:Androstenes; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D004967:Estrogens; D054439:Ghrelin; D020738:Leptin; C035144:drospirenone