Efficacy of metformin therapy in adolescent girls with androgen excess: relation to sex hormone-binding globulin and androgen receptor polymorphisms

Fertil Steril. 2010 Dec;94(7):2800-3.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.06.083. Epub 2010 Aug 5.

Abstract

We studied the effects of the SHBG (TAAAA)(n) and androgen receptor gene [AR] (CAG)(n) allele length on endocrine-metabolic features and body composition (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) before and after 1 year on metformin (850 mg/d) in 70 girls with polycystic ovary syndrome after precocious pubarche; allele lengths were assessed by polymerase chain reaction in both patients and in population control subjects (n = 107). Longer SHBG (TAAAA)(n) alleles (>8 repeats) were associated with more improvement of the lipid profile after 1 year on metformin, whereas longer AR (CAG)(n) alleles were related to more normalization of the androgen and lipid levels after therapy; longer alleles in both genes had an additive effect on the beneficial changes of SHBG, T, and lipids after metformin.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Androgens / blood
  • Biomarkers, Pharmacological / analysis
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperandrogenism / blood
  • Hyperandrogenism / complications
  • Hyperandrogenism / drug therapy*
  • Hyperandrogenism / genetics
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Metformin / therapeutic use*
  • Microsatellite Repeats / genetics
  • Microsatellite Repeats / physiology
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / complications
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / genetics
  • Polymorphism, Genetic* / physiology
  • Puberty, Precocious / genetics
  • Receptors, Androgen / genetics*
  • Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / genetics*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Trinucleotide Repeats / genetics
  • Trinucleotide Repeats / physiology

Substances

  • Androgens
  • Biomarkers, Pharmacological
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin
  • Metformin