Leptin concentrations in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome before and after met-formin treatment depending on insulin resistance, body mass index and androgen con-centrations--introductory report.

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrinological and metabolic disorder which may concern about 3-8% of women. Some PCOS women have the increased leptin concentration in blood serum. Leptin concentration is higher in patients with high body mass index (BMI) and impaired tissue sensitivity to insulin. The aim of this study was to determine leptin concentrations in PCOS patients before and after metformin treatment depending on BMI, insulin resistance calculated on the basis of the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index, as well as concentrations of androgens: testosterone and androstendion. Such values as BMI, insulin resistance according to the HOMA index, and concentrations of androstendion, testosterone and leptin were determined in 35 patients with PCOS before and after 3-month metformin treatment administered in daily doses of 2 x 850 mg. Increased leptin levels before the therapy were observed in 91.3% (21 out of 23) of obese patients, in 75% (9 out of 12) non-obese patients, in 100% (8 patients) insulin resistance women, in 81.5% (22 out of 27) insulin sensitive patients, in 94.7% (18 out of 19) women with elevated androstendion concentration and in 75% (12 out of 16) with normal androstendion concentration, in 93.7% (15 out of 16) patients with increased testosterone concentration and in 78.9% (15 out of 19) patients with testosterone concentrations within the normal range. After treatment statistically significant decrease in leptin concentration was obtained in the patients with BMI<or=25, insulin-sensitive patients (HOMA<3.8) and patients whose testosterone and androstendion concentrations stayed within normal limits. Increased leptin concentrations may be one of the elements of PCOS clinical picture. Metformin treatment considerably reduces leptin concentration, if it is employed in non-obese PCOS patients, patients with normal an-drogen concentrations and those who not have an impaired glucose tolerance.