The effect of ethinylestradiol (EE)/cyproterone acetate (CA) and EE/CA plus metformin treatment on adhesion molecules in cases with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

OBJECTIVE

To determine if EE/CA and EE/CA plus metformin treatment have any effect on adhesion molecules in cases with PCOS.

METHODS

Among 40 patients diagnosed with PCOS, one study arm was administered EE/CA (n=20, cyproterone acetate 2 mg, ethinylestradiol 35 microg) and the other was administered metformin (1,700 mg) combined with EE/CA (n=20, cyproterone acetate 2 mg, ethinylestradiol 35 microg). Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (sE-selectin), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble leukocyte endothelial cell adhesion molecule-3 (sP-selectin), lipid profile, androgens, insulin, and HOMA-IR values were assessed prior to treatment and after 3 months of therapy.

RESULTS

The comparison of the groups receiving EE/CA and EE/CA+metformin revealed a significant reduction in sVCAM (1,445+/-614 vs 1,167+/-482, p<0.05) and sICAM (442+/-141 vs 345+/-118, p<0.05) values relative to pre-treatment values while no significant changes were detected in sE-selectin and sP-selectin levels relative to pre-treatment levels in the EE/CA+metformin group (p>0.05). In the post-treatment period, sVCAM, sICAM, sE-selectin values did not significantly change compared to the pre-treatment values in EE/CA group (p>0.05). sP-selectin levels were also decreased but missed the significance in EE/CA group (229.4+/-68.0 vs 189.6+/-65.0, p=0.08).

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that EE/CA+metformin treatment reduced inflammation markers in cases with PCOS compared to EE/CA treatment. The clinical relevance of this conclusion may be clarified by longer metformin treatment and clinical follow-up.