Insulin action during variable hyperglycemic-hyperinsulinemic infusions inhyperandrogenic anovulatory patients and healthy women

Objective: To determine whether 3-month GnRH analogue (GnRH-a) administrati on to hyperandrogenic anovulatory patients and healthy women affects glucos e utilization or endogenous glucose production (EGP) in the postabsorptive state and during variable hyperglycemic-hyperinsulinemic infusions. Design: Prospective, nonrandomized study. Setting: Academic research environment. Patient(s): Twelve hyperandrogenic anovulatory patients and 11 healthy wome n matched by body mass index and waist to hip circumference ratio. Intervention(s): Variable hyperglycemic-hyperinsulinemic infusions replicat ed physiological increases in circulating glucose and insulin levels before and after 3-month GnRH-a administration. Main outcome measure(s): Glucose utilization and EGP. Result(s): In the postabsorptive state, plasma glucose and insulin levels, glucose utilization, and ECP were similar in hyperandrogenic patients and h ealthy women. During variable hyperglycemic-hyperinsulinemic infusions, glu cose use increased and EGP decreased to similar degrees in both groups of w omen. Three-month GnRH-a administration to hyperandhrogenic patients and he althy women did not affect plasma glucose and insulin levels, glucose utili zation and EGP in the postabsorptive state, or glucose utilization and EGP during variable hyperglycemic-hyperinsulinemic infusions. Conclusion(s): Glucose use and EGP in the postabsorptive state and during v ariable hyperglycemic-hyperinsulinemic infusions are similar in hyperandrog enic anovulatory patients and healthy women of similar body fat distributio n and are unaffected by 3-month GnRH-a administration. (Fertil Steril(R) 19 99;72:458-66. (C) 1999 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)