title: Effect of ethinyl estradiol-cyproterone acetate treatment on asymmetric dimethyl-arginine levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our study was undertaken to evaluate the levels of asymmetric dimethyl-arginine (ADMA) in a group of patients affected with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)--under ethinyl estradiol-cyproterone acetate treatment or not--as compared with a group of healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight women with PCOS and 45 patients as control group were included in the study. The 58 women with PCOS were separated into two groups: Group A (n = 29) were treated with an oral contraceptive pill containing 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol (EE) and 2 mg of cyproterone acetate (CA) (Diane-35) for 6 months. Group B (n = 29) did not take any drug. Group C (n = 45) was healthy women as control group. Serum levels of ADMA, lipid and glucose metabolism parameters, hormone profile were measured on the sixth month of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ADMA levels were similar in women with PCOS and controls, whereas ADMA levels significantly decreased after a period of 6 months treatment with EE + CA in women with PCOS. ADMA levels and insulin resistance were decreased with treatment. However, patients with PCOS had significantly higher total cholesterol and Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) compared to controls, treatment with EE + CA did not provide any improvement on lipid parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum ADMA levels and insulin resistance were lower in PCOS group treated with EE + CA than control group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medical School, Turgut Ozal University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Feridun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Karakurt
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carlioglu
authors.forename: Ikbal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaygusuz
authors.forename: Ilknur Inegöl
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Gumus
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Uz
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Akdeniz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; C032640:Cyproterone acetate, ethinyl estradiol drug combination; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D005947:Glucose