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Metformin administration improves leukocyte count in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a 6-month prospective study

¹ Departments of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology and ² Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University ‘Federico II’, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy, ³ Laboratory ‘MeriGen’ of Molecular Biology, Naples 80131, Italy, ⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University ‘Magna Graecia’ of Catanzaro, Catanzaro 88100, Italy, ⁵ Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Cardiovascular and Immunological Sciences and ⁶ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University ‘Federico II’ of Naples, Naples 80131, Italy and ⁷ Endocrinology, Faculty of Exercise Sciences, ‘Parthenope’ University of Naples, Naples 80133, Italy

(Correspondence should be addressed to F Orio; Email: francescoorio{at}virgilio.it)

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder associated with a wide range of endocrine and metabolic abnormalities. Low-grade chronic inflammation is a related complication recently observed in PCOS. Increased white blood cell (WBC) count was previously reported in PCOS women.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of six months metformin administration on WBC count in PCOS women.

Patients and methods: Fifty normal-weight PCOS women without additional metabolic or cardiovascular diseases were enrolled and treated with metformin (850 mg twice daily) for 6 months in a prospective baseline-controlled clinical study. At baseline and after treatment, WBC count and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated in each patient. The whole hormonal profile, serum insulin and glucose levels (at fasting and during a 75 g 2-h oral glucose tolerance test), serum lipid profile were also assessed.

Results: A significant difference was observed in WBC count (7050 ± 552 vs 6080 ± 577 cell/mm³ ± S.D., P<0.001) and CRP levels (1.8 ± 0.9 vs 1.1 ± 0.6 mg/l ± S.D., P<0.001) after metformin treatment in comparison with baseline values. SHBG levels and the free androgen index also changed significantly (P<0.001). Finally, high-density lipoproteins and the area under curve for glucose/area under curve for insulin ratio also significantly increased (P<0.001), whereas low-density lipoproteins and area under curve for insulin were significantly reduced (P<0.001). No other change was found in any of the biochemical parameters evaluated.

Conclusion: A six-month course of metformin reduces WBC count in PCOS women.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Tan, S. Hahn, S. Benson, T. Dietz, H. Lahner, L. C Moeller, M. Schmidt, S. Elsenbruch, R. Kimmig, K. Mann, et al. Metformin improves polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms irrespective of pre-treatment insulin resistance Eur. J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2007; 157(5): 669 - 676. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]