The Effects of Flutamide on Lipid Profile, Insulin Sensitivity, Hirsutism and Gonadotropins in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

677 Abstract: In this study, we evaluated metabolic changes and the effects of flutamide in 22 women with PCOS. Flutamide was administered for a 6-month period in a dose of 750 mg/day. The basal and after treatment body mass index, waist: hip ratio, blood glucose, insulin, lipids, Ferriman-Gallwey scoring (FGS), gonadotropins, testosterone, trasaminazed and glucose: insulin (G:I) ratio were measured. For comparison, ANOVA was used. The sixth month mean FGS was significantly lower than the basal values (18.5±7.4 and 12.5±4.5, P<0.01). The mean basal G:I ratio was 3.31±1.12 and 6.21±2.53 at the sixth month. The sixth month G:I ratio was significantly higher (P<0.001). The total and LDL-cholesterol were decreased by flutamide (from 144±23 to 123±23 and from 88±32 to 60±25 mg/dl respectively. P<0.02 and P<0.01), whereas, the HDL-cholesterol level was increased with flutamide (from 44.8±3.9 to 46.5±3.2 mg/dl and P<0.001). LH (from 14.7±6.7 to 8.4±3 mlU/ml), LH/FSH ratio (from 3.4±1.7 to 1.9±0.6), total testosterone (from 0.87±0.29 to 0.61±0.18 ng/ml) and free testosterone (from 4.29±1.18 to 2.14±0.9 pg/ml) were decreased by flutamide (P<0.05). Thus, we reached three conclusions:1-Flutamide may improve insulin insensitivity. 2-In PCOS, flutamide decreases total and LDL-cholesterol, and increases HDLcholesterol. 3-Flutamide may improve the LH/FSH ratio and induce a decrease in testosterone.