ULTRASONOGRAPHIC AND COLOR DOPPLER ANALYSIS IN THE TREATMENT OF POLYCYSTIC-OVARY-SYNDROME

Objective To compare the effect of a gonadotropin releasing hormone (G nRH) analog plus 'add-back' oral contraceptive (OC) therapy with OC th erapy alone on the clinical and hormonal parameters that are character istic of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Design Prospective, randomi zed study. Subjects Thirty PCOS patients were randomly assigned to tre atment with leuprolide acetate for depot suspension plus a combined mo nophasic OC (Group I) or to OC alone (Group II). Methods Hormonal (lut einizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), LH:FSH conc entration ratio, estradiol, androstenedione, testosterone), clinical ( Ferriman-Gallwey score), ultrasonographic (ovarian volume, number of s ubcapsular follicles, stromal score) and Doppler (uterine artery and o varian intraparenchymal vessels' pulsatility index, ovarian stromal va scularization) parameters were evaluated during 6 months' therapy and 6 months' follow-up. Results Significant changes in all the parameters analysed occurred as a result of therapy and the changes were more ma rked in the group undergoing treatment with GnRH analog plus OC. Concl usions GnRH analog plus OC use has a more rapid and marked effect on t he hormonal milieu as well as the ovarian architecture and vasculariza tion in patients with PCOS than OC used alone. The former treatment ma y be a more efficient therapy for PCOS.