Endocrine and metabolic effects of ostreotide, a somatostatin analogue, inlean PCOS patients with either hyperinsulinaemia or lean normoinsulinaemia

The effects on insulin secretion and on the glycaemic and androgen status b efore and after short-term treatment with octreotide were evaluated in 16 n ormal weight patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), Hyperinsulin aemia was determined by measuring the insulin response after oral glucose t olerance test (OGTT), Seven patients (group:A) were classified as normoinsu linaemic, while nine patients (group B) were considered hyperinsulinaemic a ccording to insulin response after OGTT, Octreotide treatment did not modif y either glycaemic or insulinaemic response after OGTT, or androgen profile , in normoinsulinaemic patients, On the contrary, a significant decrease in the basal concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and and rostenedione, and a significant increase in serum concentrations of sex hor mone-binding globulin (SHBG) were observed in the hyperinsulinaemic group o f patients; in which we observed also a significant decrease of insulinaemi c response and a decompensation of the glycaemic profile after OGTT, Our st udy is the first report showing that:: (i) octreotide does not appear to si gnificantly influence pituitary release of gonadotrophins in this group of PCOS patients; (ii) octreotide is able to reduce insulin release, LH and an drogen concentrations in lean PCOS patients with hyperinsulinaemia, Due to the presence of a decompensation of glucose homeostasis during treatment, o ctreotide does not seem advisable for long-term therapy of hyperandrogenism in lean PCOS patients with hyperinsulinaemia.