Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aim: Oral contraceptives (OC) are the mainstay of long-term treatment for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). OC use is associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism. The aim of the present study was to determine whether treatment with a low dose OC induce changes on coagulation and fibrinolysis in women with PCOS.

Materials and methods: Sixteen lean, normal-glucose tolerant patients with PCOS (mean age, 22.4±2.4 years; mean BMI, 20.0±2.5 kg/m²) and aged 16 years and BMI-matched healthy control women were included. All participants were non-smokers. At baseline, D-dimer, fibrinogen, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) along with clinical, hormonal and biochemical measurements were performed in patients and controls. The studies were repeated in women with PCOS after 6 months of treatment with 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol/3 mg drospirenone (EE-DRSP).

Results: All coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters were comparable between patients and controls at baseline. In women with PCOS; D-dimer, fibrinogen, APTT, and PT did not show a significant change after treatment (P=0.16, P=0.12, P=0.81 and P=0.56 respectively). EE-DRSP treatment resulted in a significant improvement in clinical/biochemical hyperandrogenism.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that 6 months use of EE-DRSP does not alter coagulation/fibrinolysis measured by clinical assays in lean women with PCOS.