Abstract
Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with an adverse cardiovascular risk profile including a prothrombotic state. Exenatide has been shown to be effective at improving insulin sensitivity and weight loss in PCOS; therefore this study was undertaken to assess its effects on weight, endothelial function, inflammatory markers, and fibrin structure/function in overweight/obese women with PCOS.Methods: Thirty overweight/obese anovulatory women with all 3 Rotterdam criteria received exenatide 5 mcg bd for 4 weeks then 10 mcg bd for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was change in weight; secondary outcomes were changes in endothelial function [Reactive Hyperemia-Peripheral Arterial Tonometry (RH-PAT)], serum endothelial markers (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, and P-selectin), change in inflammation (hsCRP), and alteration in clot structure and function [maximum absorbance (MA), and time from full clot formation to 50% lysis (LT)].Results: Twenty patients completed the study. Exenatide reduced weight 111.8 ± 4.8 to 108.6 ± 4.6 kg p = 0.003. Serum endothelial markers changed with a reduction in ICAM-1 (247.2 ± 12.9 to 231.3 ± 11.5 ng/ml p = 0.02), p-selectin (101.1 ± 8.2 to 87.4 ± 6.6 ng/ml p = 0.01), and e-selectin (38.5 ± 3.3 to 33.6 ± 2.6 ng/ml p = 0.03), without an overt change in endothelial function. Inflammation improved (CRP; 8.5 ± 1.4 to 5.6 ± 0.8 mmol/L p = 0.001), there was a reduction in clot function (LT; 2,987 ± 494 to 1,926 ± 321 s p = 0.02) but not clot structure.Conclusion: Exenatide caused a 3% reduction in weight, improved serum markers of endothelial function, inflammation, and clot function reflecting an improvement in cardiovascular risk indices in these women with PCOS. This suggests exenatide could be an effective treatment for obese women with PCOS.Clinical Trial Registration: ISRCTN81902209.
Highlights
PATIENTS AND METHODSPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition affecting 10% of women of reproductive age [1] and is characterized by chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism.Women with PCOS have an adverse cardiovascular risk profile including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, impaired glucose tolerance, and ischemic heart disease [2,3,4]
Exenatide has been shown to be effective at improving insulin sensitivity and weight loss in PCOS; this study was undertaken to assess its effects on weight, endothelial function, inflammatory markers, and fibrin structure/function in overweight/obese women with PCOS
Serum endothelial markers changed with a reduction in intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) (247.2 ± 12.9 to 231.3 ± 11.5 ng/ml p = 0.02), p-selectin (101.1 ± 8.2 to 87.4 ± 6.6 ng/ml p = 0.01), and e-selectin (38.5 ± 3.3 to 33.6 ± 2.6 ng/ml p = 0.03), without an overt change in endothelial function
Summary
Women with PCOS have an adverse cardiovascular risk profile including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, impaired glucose tolerance, and ischemic heart disease [2,3,4]. Treatments resulting in an improvement in endothelial function may slow the progression of atherosclerosis and may reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events [10] and an improvement of endothelial function has been shown with weight loss and metformin treatment in women with PCOS [11]. Serological markers of endothelial function include endothelin-1 that is reported to be elevated in PCOS [12], but decreased after 6 months metformin therapy [12]. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with an adverse cardiovascular risk profile including a prothrombotic state. Exenatide has been shown to be effective at improving insulin sensitivity and weight loss in PCOS; this study was undertaken to assess its effects on weight, endothelial function, inflammatory markers, and fibrin structure/function in overweight/obese women with PCOS
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