title: Effect of metformin and spironolactone therapy on OGTT in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome - a retrospective analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metformin (an insulin sensitizer) and spironolactone (an antiandrogen) are both used for treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. We analyzed the effect of 6 months of therapy with these drugs on body weight and glucose tolerance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This was a retrospective analysis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) cases on treatment. There were 88 patients with PCOS-42 were on metformin 1 g daily and 46 were taking spironolactone 50-75 mg daily. 21 of 42 had abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT) in the metformin group and 13 of 46 had AGT in the spironolactone group. Patients on metformin reported a greater reduction in body weight, whereas there was no change in body weight with spironolactone therapy (67.6-63.7 versus 59.6-59.2 kg). There was a significant reduction in the 1 and 2 h glucose and insulin levels with metformin therapy in those with AGT. However, fasting glucose increased in those with normal glucose tolerance. There was no change in either body weight or insulin levels with spironolactone. But, there was a significant reduction in both the 0 and 2 h glucose with spironolactone also in those with AGT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spironolactone and metformin had similar effect in reducing the glucose levels in PCOS patients with AGT. PCOS patients with normal glucose tolerance had higher fasting plasma glucose at the end of 6 months of metformin therapy inspite of weight reduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, AIIMS, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Bindu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kulshreshtha
authors.forename: Nandita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Mohd Ashraf
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ganie
authors.forename: Ariachery C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ammini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008499:Medical Records; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D013148:Spironolactone; D013739:Testosterone; D008687:Metformin