title: Effects of the insulin sensitizer pioglitazone on menstrual irregularity, insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine cause of menstrual irregularities, hirsutism and acne. Women with PCOS present elevated plasma insulin levels, both fasting and after a glucose load, as an indirect evidence of insulin resistance. PCOS women may also present hypertension, low levels of HDL cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, visceral obesity and a higher level of CRP and fibrinogen that can predict an atherosclerotic risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out on 15 young women with PCOS selected according to the 2003 diagnostic criteria of The Rotterdam Consensus Statement and 15 Control women. PCOS women were treated with pioglitazone 30 mg/day and at the beginning and after 6 months of treatment were evaluated: menstrual cycle trend, hirsutism and acne, total cholesterolemia and HDL, triglyceridemia, fibrinogenemia, C-reactive protein, oral glucose tolerance test, glycated hemoglobin, FSH, LH, 17OH-progesterone, 17β-estradiol, free and total testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S, Δ4-androstenedione and adiponectin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with pioglitazone improves the irregularities of menses and hirsutism. Six months of treatment modify other parameters linked with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases: adiponectin increased with reduction of insulin resistance while fibrinogen and CRP levels decreased.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaspare
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stabile
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric, Gynecological, Microbiological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy. Electronic address: ireneborrielli@libero.it.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Borrielli
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo Carducci
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Artenisio
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benvenga
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giunta
authors.affiliation: Mother-Infant Department, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41100 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Marca
authors.affiliation: Mother-Infant Department, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41100 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Annibale
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric, Gynecological, Microbiological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfonsa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pizzo
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000188:drug therapy; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D005340:Fibrinogen; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000077205:Pioglitazone
keywords: Adiponectin; Insulin resistence; Pioglitazone; Polycystic ovary syndrome