Endocrine Abstracts

An association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter gene that codify for 17b-HSD5 enzyme (71A>G) with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been suggested in previous studies. Given the role of 17b-HSD5 in androgenic metabolism producing testosterone from precursors, the aim of this study was to assess whether non-obese PCOS women with the variant allele G have different response on hirsutism and on hormonal and metabolic variables to oral contraceptive pill (OCP) treatment. Twenty-eight PCOS outpatients, defined by the Rotterdam criteria, were included in the study. None had received any drugs known to interfere with hormonal levels for at least 3 months before the study. Patients with diabetes, BMI≥30 or insulin resistance (HOMA-IR >3.8) were excluded. Women received OCP (ethinyl oestradiol 20 μg plus gestodene 75 μg) during 6 cycles. Hirsutism, hormone and metabolic variables were evaluated before and after the treatment. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood by a standard salting out procedure, and the samples were genotyped by allelic discrimination assay with Real Time PCR. Data were analyzed by Anova for repeated measures. Participants were stratified by the presence of the allele G (AA or AG+GG). The genotypic distribution (AA:46,4%, AG:42,9%, GG:10,7%) was similar to previous studies. Hirsutism regressed equally with OCP in both groups (33.5 and 45.5% for AA and AG+GG, respectively). SHBG levels were increased and androgens and LH declined from baseline (P<0.05) independently of the presence of the allele G. Triglycerides, total, and HDL-cholesterol increased in the two groups during treatment, but the levels remained normal. Data from this pilot study suggest that, for selected PCOS patients without major metabolic comorbities, OCP may be a safe and effective treatment and the presence of allele G appears not to contribute with the improvements in the studied variables.