title: On the potential of metformin to prevent preterm delivery in women with polycystic ovary syndrome - an epi-analysis.
abstract: Our aim was to re-evaluate whether metformin may reduce late miscarriage/preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We performed an epi-analysis of two randomized controlled trials. The participants were 313 women aged 18-42 years with PCOS who had singleton pregnancies. They were randomized to metformin or placebo treatment from first trimester until delivery. We analysed the prevalence of late miscarriage/preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes according to both the intention-to-treat principle and per protocol analysis. The metformin-treated patients had less late miscarriage/preterm delivery; five (3%) vs. 18 (11%) in the placebo group (p < 0.01). There was no difference in the prevalence of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia between the metformin and the placebo group. In this epi-analysis, metformin treatment during pregnancy seems to reduce early delivery in women with PCOS. We believe that further randomized studies should be performed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. eszter.vanky@ntnu.no
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vanky
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: DE Zegher
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ibáñez
authors.forename: Sven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Carlsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin