title: Oral contraceptives alone and with spironolactone increase sCD40 ligand in PCOS patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study was designed to determine the effect of oral contraceptives (OCP) and OCP plus spironolactone (Sp) on plasma soluble CD40L levels in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six women with PCOS were randomized into two treatment protocols: ethinylestradiol + cyproterone acetate (2 mg, EE/CA; n = 28), and EE/CA with spironolactone (Sp; n = 28). Plasma sCD40L levels were measured before and after a 3-month treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the initiation of treatment, the sCD40L levels were not significantly different between the groups [EE/CA (1.33 ng/mL) vs. EE/CA + Sp (1.23 ng/mL); P > 0.05]. In the post-treatment period, sCD40L concentrations were increased compared with pre-treatment values in the EE/CA and EE/CA + Sp groups (1.33 vs. 2.70 ng/mL, P = 0.011; and 1.23 vs. 2.41 ng/mL, P = 0.017; respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased plasma concentrations of sCD40L are associated with OCP and OCP + Sp treatment regimens in PCOS patients.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. leventkebapcilar@yahoo.com
authors: Levent
authors: L
authors: Kebapcilar
authors: Oktay
authors: O
authors: Bilgir
authors: Cuneyt Eftal
authors: CE
authors: Taner
authors: Ayse Gul
authors: AG
authors: Kebapcilar
authors: Didem L
authors: DL
authors: Kozaci
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Alacacioglu
authors: Yasar
authors: Y
authors: Yildiz
authors: Arif
authors: A
authors: Yuksel
authors: Ismail
authors: I
authors: Sari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D013148:Spironolactone; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate