title: Effect of N-acetyl-cysteine after ovarian drilling in clomiphene citrate-resistant PCOS women: a pilot study.
abstract: The aim of this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study was to evaluate N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) as an adjunctive therapy following unilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) for clomiphene citrate-resistant women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A total of 60 patients with clomiphene citrate-resistant PCOS who underwent unilateral LOD were assigned randomly to receive either NAC 1.2 g/d (group A=30) or placebo (group B=30) for 5 days starting at day 3 of the cycle for 12 consecutive cycles. The primary outcome was pregnancy rate; secondary outcomes were ovulation rates, endometrial thickness and pregnancy outcome. Baseline clinical, endocrine, and sonographic characteristics were similar in the two groups. A significant increase in both ovulation and pregnancy rates was observed in the NAC group, compared with placebo [87% versus 67% (RR 1.3; 95% CI 1.2-2.7) and 77% versus 57% (RR 1.4; 95% CI 1.1-2.7), respectively, P<0.01]. Moreover, miscarriage rates were significantly lower and live birth rates were significantly higher in the NAC group [8.7% versus 23.5% (RR 0.4; 95% CI 0.1-3.7) and 67% versus 40% (RR 1.7; 95% CI 0.3-3.5), respectively, P<0.01]. In conclusion, NAC is a novel adjuvant therapy after unilateral LOD which might help improve overall reproductive outcome.
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, P.O. Box 1, 71516 Assiut, Egypt. a_nasr02@lycos.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasr
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D010053:Ovary / Q000601:surgery*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010919:Placebos; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D010919:Placebos; D002996:Clomiphene; D000111:Acetylcysteine