Metformin plus oral contraceptive may decrease plasma sCD40 ligand in women with PCOS patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate sCD40L levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who use combination therapy with metformin and oral contraceptives.


METHODS
Total of 60 patients with PCOS was studied to evaluate and compare with a non-PCOS group consisting of 30 subjects. A low-dose oral contraceptive containing ethinyl oestradiol-cyproterone acetate (EE/CA) and metformin (M; 850 mg metformin twice a day) were given for three cycles. Plasma sCD40L was measured before and after the treatment of 3 months.


RESULTS
At baseline, the sCD40L levels of the patients with PCOS was significantly higher than those of control subjects (3.1 ± 2.0 vs. 2.05 ± 1.0, respectively; p=0.002). An average of 3 months of EE/CA-M therapy induced a significant decrease of sCD40L levels in the PCOS group (3.1 ± 2.0 vs. 2.5 ± 1.0; p=0.026). After having treated patients with PCOS, the sCD40L level was not completely normalised when compared to the healthy controls (2.5 ± 1.0 vs. 2.05 ± 1.0; p=0.039).


CONCLUSIONS
PCOS is associated with elevated levels of sCD40L. Adding metformin therapy to EE/CA may decrease sCD40L levels in women PCOS. However, after the treatment for PCOS subjects, the sCD40L was not completely normalised when compared patients to healthy controls.
Kebapcilar
Levent
L
Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. leventkebapcilar@yahoo.com
Kebapcilar
Ayse Gul
AG
Bilgir
Oktay
O
Taner
Cuneyt Eftal
CE
Bozkaya
Giray
G
Yildiz
Yasar
Y
Sari
Ismail
I
D000328:Adult; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D008687:Metformin