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A Trial of Lipitor (Atorvastatin) for the Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in Women With Elevated Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Interventions
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT00529542
Lead Sponsor
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of Lipitor (Atorvastatin) for the treatment of PCOS with elevated LDL cholesterol.

Detailed Description

The investigators hypothesize that improving the lipid profile with atorvastatin will improve vascular function, increase the frequency of ovulation, decrease androgen levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and improve the lipid profile more efficiently than placebo.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria

Women with PCOS

  • 8 or fewer menstrual periods per year
  • elevated serum total testosterone
  • elevated LDL cholesterol
Exclusion Criteria
  • current pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • current use of oral contraceptives, progestins
  • insulin sensitizing medications
  • thyroid disease, hyperprolactinemia, active liver disease, type 1 or type 2 diabetes

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PlaceboPlacebo-
AtorvastatinLipitor-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Brachial Artery Flow-mediated Dilation (FMD)baseline and 6 weeks

Brachial artery FMD, the percent change in brachial artery diameter following release of transient occlusion, was selected as the primary outcome because it is the most widely used research tool for evaluating the effects of interventions on endothelial function. FMD has been shown to predict longterm cardiovascular events, even in patients with no apparent heart disease.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Total Testosteronebaseline and 6 weeks
Peak Brachial Artery Conductance (BAC)baseline and 6 weeks

Pneumatic cuffs were positioned on the upper arm and wrist of the experimental arm. The brachial artery was imaged using an ATL Doppler ultrasound probe (5-12MHz linear array scanhead, HDI 5000, Advanced Technology Laboratories, Bothell, WA). Mean blood flow velocity (MBV) and brachial artery diameter (BAD) were recorded at baseline. Then the wrist cuff was inflated to 200-250 mmHg. After a minute, with the wrist cuff still inflated, the arm cuff was inflated to 200-250 mmHg. After 10 minutes the arm cuff was released to induce reactive hyperemia in the brachial artery. Upon release of the arm cuff, we continuously measured blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and MBV, and intermittently measured BAD in the experimental arm. Brachial artery conductance (BAC)was calculated as MBV/MAP and FMD was calculated as percent change in BAD from baseline.

Total Cholesterolbaseline and 6 weeks
LDL Cholesterolbaseline and 6 weeks
HDL Cholesterolbaseline and 6 weeks
Triglyceridesbaseline and 6 weeks
Fasting Glucosebaseline and 6 weeks
Fasting Insulinbaseline and 6 weeks
Area Under the Curve (AUC) for Glucose During OGTTbaseline and 6 weeks

A 75 gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed with blood draws at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes.

AUC for Insulinbaseline and 6 weeks

Area under the curve for insulin during OGTT: A 75 gram oral glucose tolerance test was performed with blood draws at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes.

Androstenedionebaseline and 6 weeks
DHEASbaseline and 6 weeks

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center, College of Medicine

🇺🇸

Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

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