Metformin versus lifestyle changes in treating women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of metformin with that of lifestyle changes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). DESIGN: Prospective, randomized clinical trial of 40 women with PCOS to analyze the effects of metformin and lifestyle intervention treatments on menstrual pattern and hormone and metabolic profile. The duration of treatment was 6 months. Statistical analysis was done using Student's t-test. RESULTS: Fifteen women in the metformin group and 12 in the lifestyle changes group completed the study. The menstrual pattern improved by ~67% in both groups. There was a significant decrease in waist circumference in the lifestyle changes group (101.8 ± 3.9 and 95.1 ± 3.6, at baseline and at 6 months of treatment, respectively; p < 0.001) and in body mass index (BMI) in both groups. The predictor of menstrual pattern improvement was BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Both metformin and lifestyle changes may increase the number of menstrual cycles in PCOS. This effect was related to a decrease in BMI.

Metabolic syndrome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: prevalence, characteristics and predictors.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, as well as its characteristics and predictors. Seventh-three women, with body mass index of 30.4 +/- 7.8 kg/m2 and 25.0 +/- 6.0 years old, subdivided according to body mass index, were studied retrospectively. There was no significant mean age difference among body mass index groups (p = 0.228). Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 38.4%, with a null prevalence for normal (n = 18), 23.8% for overweight (n = 17), 62.9% for obese (n = 28), and 85.5% for morbidly obese women (n = 7). Women with metabolic syndrome were older than women without metabolic syndrome (27.3 +/- 5.3 vs. 24.2 +/- 4.6 vs. years old; p = 0.031) and presented a higher body mass index (36.3 +/- 7.7 vs. 26.9 +/- 5.4; p < 0.001). There was no difference for degree of hirsutism and menstrual patterns between women with and without metabolic syndrome (p = 0.593 and p = 0.119, respectively). Regarding laboratory parameters, DHEAS was lower (1,646 +/- 1,007 vs. 2,594 +/- 1,563; p = 0.007) and HOMA-IR were higher (9.9 +/- 9.7 vs. 4.6 +/- 4.7; p = 0.004) in women with metabolic syndrome (p = 0.031 and p < 0.001, respectively). The best predictors of metabolic syndrome were waist circumference > 88 cm, HDL-cholesterol < 50 mg/dL and triglycerides >or= 150 mg/dL.

Metabolic syndrome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: prevalence, characteristics and predictors

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, as well as its characteristics and predictors. Seventh-three women, with body mass index of 30.4 ± 7.8 kg/m² and 25.0 ± 6.0 years old, subdivided according to body mass index, were studied retrospectively. There was no significant mean age difference among body mass index groups (p = 0.228). Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 38.4 percent, with a null prevalence for normal (n = 18), 23.8 percent for overweight (n = 17), 62.9 percent for obese (n = 28), and 85.5 percent for morbidly obese women (n = 7). Women with metabolic syndrome were older than women without metabolic syndrome (27.3 ± 5.3 vs. 24.2 ± 4.6 vs. years old; p = 0.031) and presented a higher body mass index (36.3 ± 7.7 vs. 26.9 ± 5.4; p < 0.001). There was no difference for degree of hirsutism and menstrual patterns between women with and without metabolic syndrome (p = 0.593 and p = 0.119, respectively). Regarding laboratory parameters, DHEAS was lower (1,646 ± 1,007 vs. 2,594 ± 1,563; p = 0.007) and HOMA-IR were higher (9.9 ± 9.7 vs. 4.6 ± 4.7; p = 0.004) in women with metabolic syndrome (p = 0.031 and p < 0.001, respectively). The best predictors of metabolic syndrome were waist circumference > 88 cm, HDL-cholesterol < 50 mg/dL and triglycerides > 150 mg/dL.

O objetivo deste estudo foi o de determinar a prevalência, características e preditores da síndrome metabólica em mulheres com a síndrome dos ovários policísticos. Setenta e três mulheres, com índice de massa corporal de 30,4 ± 7,8 kg/m² e 25,0 ± 6,0 anos de idade, subdivididas de acordo com o índice de massa corporal, foram estudadas retrospectivamente. Não se observou diferença significativa de idade entre os grupos (p = 0,228). A prevalência da síndrome metabólica foi de 38,4 por cento, estando ausente nas mulheres com índice de massa corporal normal (n = 18) e presente em 23,8 por cento das com sobrepeso (n = 17), 62,9 por cento das obesas (n = 28) e 85,5 por cento das obesas mórbidas (n = 7). Quando comparadas, as mulheres com síndrome metabólica apresentaram uma idade mais avançada (27,3 ± 5,3 vs. 24,2 ± 4,6 anos; p = 0,031) e um índice de massa corporal maior (36,3 ± 7,7 vs. 26,9 ± 5,4; p < 0,001) que as mulheres sem a síndrome, não havendo diferença significativa com relação ao grau de hirsutismo (p = 0,593) e padrão menstrual (p = 0,119). Com relação aos parâmetros laboratoriais, a concentração de DHEAS foi menor (1.646 ± 1.007 vs. 2.594 ± 1.563; p = 0,007) e o valor do HOMA-IR foi maior (9,9 ± 9,7 vs. 4,6 ± 4,7; p = 0,004) nas pacientes com a síndrome metabólica. Os melhores preditores para a presença da síndrome metabólica foram a circunferência abdominal > 88 cm, HDL-colesterol < 50 mg/dL e triglicérides > 150 mg/dL.

Hirsutismo: diagnóstico diferencial / Hirsutism: differential diagnosis

O hirsutismo é um dos sinais das síndromes hiperandrogênicas. Uma abordagem prática consiste em dividir as síndromes hiperandrogênicas em virilizantes e não virilizantes, de acordo com a presença ou ausência de sinais de virilização. Um caso de uma paciente com hirsutismo e com uma concentração basal e após estímulo com ACTH(1-24) elevada de 17-OHP é discutido. A ausência de sinais de virilização e a história clínica tornavam pouco prováveis etiologias como neoplasias virilizantes e a hipertecose de ovário. Dentre as causas das síndromes não virilizantes, a presença de distúrbio menstrual e hiperandrogenemia descartou o hirsutismo idiopático. De acordo com o Consenso de Rotterdam, considerou-se o diagnóstico de síndrome dos ovários policísticos, procedendo-se à exclusão da forma não clássica da hiperplasia adrenal congênita por deficiência da 21-hidroxilase. A concentração de 17-OHP após estímulo foi de 14 ng/dL, sendo que, na dependência do limite de corte considerado, seria compatível com esta doença. Embora a região promotora do gene não tenha sido estudada, do ponto de vistas prático pode-se considerar que este diagnóstico tenha sido excluído, uma vez que mutações nessa região são raras.

Hirsutism is one of the manifestations of the hyperandrogenic syndromes. A practical approach consists of dividing the hyperandrogenic syndromes into virilizing and non-virilizing, in accordance to the presence or absence of virilization symptoms. A case of a patient with hirsutism and a high basal and post-ACTH stimulation concentration of 17-OHP is presented. The absence of virilization and of clinical history discarded as etiology the virilizing neoplasias and hiperthecose of the ovary. Among the causes of non-virilizing syndromes, the presence of the menstrual disturbance and hiperandrogenemia discarded idiopathic hirsutism. In accordance to the Consensus of Rotterdam, the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome was considered. For to exclude the non classic form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hidroxilase deficiency, the patient was submitted to a short ACTH-(1-24) stimulation test. The 17-OHP concentrations after stimuli were 14 ng/dL, being that, in the dependence of the limit of considered cut-off, it would be compatible with this illness. Although the promoter region had not been studied, we can consider that this diagnosis was excluded through the sequencing of CYP21A2 gene, since mutation on the promoter region is a rare event.

[Hirsutism: differential diagnosis]. / Hirsutismo: diagnóstico diferencial.

Hirsutism is one of the manifestations of the hyperandrogenic syndromes. A practical approach consists of dividing the hyperandrogenic syndromes into virilizing and non-virilizing, in accordance to the presence or absence of virilization symptoms. A case of a patient with hirsutism and a high basal and post-ACTH stimulation concentration of 17-OHP is presented. The absence of virilization and of clinical history discarded as etiology the virilizing neoplasias and hyperthecose of the ovary. Among the causes of non-virilizing syndromes, the presence of the menstrual disturbance and hyperandrogenemia discarded idiopathic hirsutism. In accordance to the Consensus of Rotterdam, the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome was considered. For to exclude the non classic form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, the patient was submitted to a short ACTH-(1-24) stimulation test. The 17-OHP concentrations after stimuli were 14 ng/dL, being that, in the dependence of the limit of considered cut-off, it would be compatible with this illness. Although the promoter region had not been studied, we can consider that this diagnosis was excluded through the sequencing of CYP21A2 gene, since mutation on the promoter region is a rare event.

Avaliação da utilidade do estímulo agudo das gonadotrofinas e dos esteróides ovarianos com análogo do hormônio liberador de gonadotrofinas no diagnóstico diferencial do hiperandrogenismo ovariano funcional / Assessment of the utility of gonadotropins and ovarian steroids response to acute simulation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) in the differential diagnosis of functional ovarian hyperandrogenism

A resposta da 17-hidroxiprogesterona (170HP) ao estímulo agudo com um análogo do hormônio liberador de gonadotrofinas (GnRHa) e sua relação com a sensibilidade à insulina (SI) foi avaliada em 8 mulheres voluntárias normais e obesas (grupo N), com idades entre 24 e 40 anos (mediana de 29) e índice de massa corpóreo (IMC) entre 32,0 e 46,5kg/m2 (mediana de 35,7) e 8 pacientes portadoras da síndrome dos ovários policísticos (grupo SOP) com idades entre 19 e 28 anos (mediana de 26) e IMC entre 30,1 e 40,lkg/m2 (mediana de 35,8), submetidas a estímulo agudo com acetato de leuprolide, l ONg/kg SC e a teste de tolerância oral à glicose (TTOG). Observou-se aumento significativo da concentração de 170HP, tanto no grupo N (1,5 vs. 2,9ng/mL; p= 0,023) quanto no grupo SOP (0,8 vs. 3,lng/mL; p= 0,007), não havendo diferença significativa entre os grupos. A SI foi avaliada através da área sob a curva de insulina (ASCI) no TTOG. O grupo N apresentou ASCI significativamente menor que o grupo SOP (14.384 vs. 22.800uU1/mL/min, p= 0,04). Não houve correlação entre a concentração de 170HP após estímulo e a ASCI.