Title

Low Dose OC Therapy in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Impact of BMI on Hyperandrogenism
Positive Clinical and Hormonal Effects of Ethinylestradiol Combined With Drospirenone (EE/DRSP) in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Impact of Body Weight and Relevance to Hyperandrogenism
  • Phase

    Phase 4
  • Study Type

    Interventional
  • Study Participants

    64
The classic description of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is that it is a disorder characterized by menstrual irregularity, chronic anovulation, androgen excess, and abnormal gonadotropin secretion. Use of combined oral contraceptives (OCs) in women with PCOS effectively reduces circulating androgens. Although OCs are the most common and one of the oldest symptomatic treatment modalities for androgenic skin symptoms and for irregular menstrual cycles caused by hyperandrogenism, the data concerning the effect of treatment of PCOS women with different body mass index (BMI) are limited. This study is being done to compare the hormone and metabolic changes after treatment with low-dose oral birth control regimen of DRSP 3 mg/EE 0.02mg/levomefolate calcium 0.451 mg (Beyaz™) in women with PCOS with different body weights.
Clinically, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous disorder of functional androgen excess and the features of PCOS can run through a spectrum of severity. The optimal modality for long-term treatment of PCOS should positively influence androgen synthesis, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) production, insulin sensitivity, the lipid profile, and clinical symptoms including hirsutism and irregular menstrual cycles. Combined oral contraceptives have been a key component of the chronic treatment of women with PCOS; improving androgen excess and regulating menstrual cycles. The effect of OCs on ovarian folliculogenesis significantly decreases androgen production. This mechanism was confirmed in both healthy women and women with PCOS. In obese patients with PCOS, it is likely that the suppression of androgen production is not as significant. It is thus possible to hypothesize that the effects of OCs in PCOS could be dependent on body weight and what is needed is a head-to-head comparison. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of 6 months of a low-dose oral contraceptive regimen of 24/4 DRSP 3 mg/EE 0.02mg/levomefolate calcium 0.451 mg on androgen profiles, cardiometabolic measures, B-vitamin status, and menstrual cycle regulation in three groups, normal (BMI 18-24.9 kg/ m2) overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/ m2) and obese (BMI 30-35 kg/ m2) women with PCOS.
Study Started
Aug 31
2011
Primary Completion
Feb 28
2015
Study Completion
Feb 28
2015
Results Posted
Mar 31
2017
Last Update
Mar 31
2017

Drug 3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE

1 pill daily-24 days of drospirenone 3 mg (3 mg DRSP)/ethinyl estradiol 20 μg (20 μg EE)/levomefolate calcium 0.451 mg (folate) -followed by 4 days of levomefolate calcium 0.451 mg (folate)only

  • Other names: folate-boosted 3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE-24/4 oral contraceptive, BeYaz

3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE--normal weight Experimental

Folate-boosted 3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE-24/4 oral contraceptive Normal weight -BMI 18-24.9 kg/ m2

3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE- Overweight Experimental

Folate-boosted 3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE-24/4 oral contraceptive BMI 25-29.9 kg/ m2

3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE- Grade 1 obese Experimental

Folate-boosted 3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE-24/4 oral contraceptive BMI 30-34.9 kg/ m2

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

•Adult female-16 years to 35 years of age who have been diagnosed with PCOS desiring contraception

Actual BMI >18 to <35kg/ m2
Written consent for participation in the study
Patient completed lactation

Exclusion Criteria:

Metabolic abnormalities requiring pharmacological intervention (except controlled thyroid disease)

Uncontrolled hypertension
Cancer or history of hormone-dependent cancer
History of cholestasis
Presence of contradictions for OC administration
Personal history of cardiovascular events.
Use of drugs known to exacerbate glucose tolerance.
No prescription or over-the-counter weight-loss drugs
Diabetes
Use of medications that affect blood pressure or lipid profile
Smoking in past 6 months
Known thrombogenic mutations (e.g. Factor V Leiden)
Current or history of deep venous thrombosis/pulmonary embolism
Major surgery with prolonged immobilization
Injectable hormonal contraceptive use within 6 months
Use of hormonal (e.g., oral contraceptive [OC] pill) or insulin-sensitizing medication unless willing to cease medications for 3 months before study measurements

Summary

3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE--normal Weight

3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE- Overweight

3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE- Grade 1 Obese

All Events

Event Type Organ System Event Term

Biochemical Assessment of Hyperandrogenism

The primary outcome measure is post-treatment Free Androgen Index(FAI) which is expressed in units. FAI is calculated by taking the testosterone concentration (in nmol/l) and dividing by concentration of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG in nmol/L)and multiplying by 100

Non-Obese

0.7
Index (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.5

Obese

0.7
Index (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.45

Cardiometabolic Measures

Values represent blood pressure at 24 weeks.

Non-Obese

120.0
mmHg (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 13

Obese

125.0
mmHg (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 9

Post Therapy BMI.

Post-treatment body mass index at 24 weeks

Non-Obese

24.6
kg/m2 (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 3.9

Obese

32.7
kg/m2 (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 2.7

Biochemical Indicator of B-vitamin Status

Post-treatment in folate concentrations after 24 weeks of treatment

Non-Obese

65.8
Folate in nmol/l (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 20.4

Obese

60.8
Folate in nmol/l (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 20.6

Menstrual Cycle Regularity

Post treatment menstrual frequency over 24 weeks normalized to number of menses per year ..

Non-Obese

11.3
number of cycles annually (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 1.7

Obese

11.0
number of cycles annually (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 1.4

Adrenal Androgen DHEAS

Post-treatment levels of adrenal androgen DHEAS

Non-Obese

4.9
micromol/L (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 2.2

Obese

4.3
micromol/L (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 2.3

Oral Disposition Index

Post-treatment insulin secretion-sensitivity index (ISSI) calculated from the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A higher value indicate improved carbohydrate metabolism

Non-Obese

732.0
calculated index (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 420

Obese

272.0
calculated index (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 226

Total

64
Participants

Age, Categorical

Region of Enrollment

Sex: Female, Male

Overall Study

3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE--normal Weight

3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE- Overweight

3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE- Grade 1 Obese

Drop/Withdrawal Reasons

3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE--normal Weight

3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE- Overweight

3 mg DRSP/20 μg EE- Grade 1 Obese