title: The effect of atorvastatin and atorvastatin-ezetimibe combination therapy on androgen production in hyperandrogenic women with elevated cholesterol levels.
abstract: Statins decreased serum androgen levels in hyperandrogenemic women with polycystic ovary syndrome. No previous study has investigated whether this effect is dose-dependent and observed in patients simultaneously treated with other hypolipidemic agents. The study included 23 premenopausal women with elevated total testosterone levels coexisting with hypercholesterolemia, unsuccessfully treated for at least 6 months with atorvastatin (20 mg daily). These patients were then treated with either an increased dose of atorvastatin (40 mg daily, n=11) or atorvastatin (20 mg daily) plus ezetimibe (10 mg daily) (n=12). Plasma lipids, glucose homeostasis markers and serum levels of androgens, sex hormone-binding globulin and gonadotropins were assessed at baseline and after 3 months of treatment. Although both treatments decreased plasma levels of total and LDL-cholesterol levels, only high-dose atorvastatin reduced serum levels of total testosterone, free testosterone and androstendione. The effect of high-dose atorvastatin on serum androgen levels did not differ between insulin-resistant and insulin-sensitive subjects. The obtained results suggest that atorvastatin reduces serum androgen levels in a dose-dependent manner and that its administration in a higher dose is associated with a more pronounced effect on serum androgens than combination therapy with low-dose atorvastatin and ezetimibe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krysiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Okopien
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001384:Azetidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000069438:Ezetimibe; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001384:Azetidines; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D000069438:Ezetimibe