1.
Serum leptin levels in premature pubarche and prepubertal girls with and without obesity.
Teixeira, RJ, Ginzbarg, D, Rodrigues Freitas, J, Fucks, G, Silva, CM, Bordallo, MA
Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM. 2004;(10):1393-8
Abstract
Leptin can be regarded as a marker of the nutritional status of the body. This study was performed to determine the correlation of leptin levels with insulin (I) and androgens in girls with premature pubarche (PP) and prepubertal controls (C) with (OB) or without (nOB) obesity. We studied 25 girls with PP and 14 C; girls were dived into two subgroups according to body mass index (BMI): OB (18 PP and 8 C) and nOB (7 PP and 6 C). Obesity was defined as BMI >95th percentile for chronological age. Serum levels of leptin, I, glucose (G), DHEAS, testosterone, androstenedione (A), cortisol, SHBG, IGFBP-1 and lipid profile were measured. The fasting G to I ratio (FGIR) was calculated and FGIR <7 was considered as suggestive of I resistance (IR). Data were analyzed comparing PP vs C and OB vs nOB. Serum DHEAS (0.60 +/- 0.45 vs 0.18 +/- 0.22 microg/ml) and A (895.5 +/- 420.4 vs 457.0 +/- 352.1 pg/ml) levels were significantly higher in PP than C. Other hormonal and metabolic parameters were similar. Serum leptin (30.8 +/- 18.3 vs 8.1 +/- 5.9 ng/ml), A (841.8 +/- 471.1 vs 522.5 +/- 317.2 pg/ml), DHEAS (0.53 +/- 0.44 vs 0.31 +/- 0.39 microg/ml), G (88.4 +/- 8.8 vs 80.2 +/- 8.1 mg/dl), I (13.5 +/- 7.7 vs 5.1 +/- 3.7 microU/ml) and total cholesterol (TC) (180.5 +/- 30.9 vs 161.8 +/- 29.5 mg/dl) levels were greater in the OB than in the nOB group. IR was observed in 10 girls with OB and in one with nOB. Leptin was correlated with BMI (r = 0.83), SHBG (r = -0.44), IGFBP-1 (r = -0.47), I (r = 0.37), A (r = 0.48) and TC (r = 0.36), but in multiple regression analysis only with BMI (r2 = 0.72, p < 0.001). Girls with PP and prepubertal OB girls showed elevated leptin levels independent of I and androgen levels. Girls with OB had a greater degree of hyperandrogenism and IR. As obesity, IR and hyperandrogenism are common findings in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is more prevalent in young women with a history of PP, a role of leptin in PCOS can be suggested. In addition, girls with PP could be considered a population at risk for plurimetabolic syndrome.
2.
Androgen and lipid profiles in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome who were treated with two forms of combined oral contraceptives.
Mastorakos, G, Koliopoulos, C, Creatsas, G
Fertility and sterility. 2002;(5):919-27
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of cyproterone acetate and desogestrel, as part of combined oral contraceptives, on lipid metabolism and hirsutism of adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). DESIGN Prospective randomized clinical trial. SETTING Outpatient gynecology clinic (referral center) of a university. PATIENT(S): Twenty-eight adolescent girls with clinical and biological hyperandrogenism and six or less menses during the past 12 months. INTERVENTION(S): Group A (n = 14) received 0.15 mg of desogestrel plus 0.030 mg of ethinyl estradiol daily. Group B (n = 14) received 2 mg of cyproterone acetate plus 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol daily. Treatment was given for 21 days followed by a 7-day rest for a period of 12 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Hirsutism and lipid profile were evaluated before initiation and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment. Androgen profile was evaluated before and at 12 months of treatment. RESULT(S): A significant decline of the Ferriman-Gallway hirsutism score was observed from the sixth month of therapy in both groups. During therapy, the levels of testosterone, free testosterone, Delta(4)-androstenedione, and 17OH-progesterone decreased significantly, whereas sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) increased significantly in both groups. The level of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol increased significantly, whereas high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I increased significantly from the third month of therapy in both groups. Total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratios remained unchanged. The levels of triglycerides increased significantly in the cyproterone acetate-treated group after the third month. CONCLUSION(S): Treatment of adolescent girls with PCOS with the two studied formulations is comparably effective in decreasing hirsutism and androgen levels. Both combined oral contraceptives are associated with an increase of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol levels and no change of the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratios. Treatment with the cyproterone acetate combined oral contraceptive is associated with a tendency toward increasing the levels of triglycerides.