Oral contraceptives alone and with spironolactone increase sCD40 ligand in PCOS patients.
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.
Kebapcilar
Levent
L
Department of Internal Medicine, Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. leventkebapcilar@yahoo.com
Bilgir
Oktay
O
Taner
Cuneyt Eftal
CE
Kebapcilar
Ayse Gul
AG
Kozaci
Didem L
DL
Alacacioglu
Ahmet
A
Yildiz
Yasar
Y
Yuksel
Arif
A
Sari
Ismail
I
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
D019013:CD40 Antigens; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D013148:Spironolactone; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate