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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2015; 123(02): 75-79
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1394400
Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Effect of Atorvastatin and Atorvastatin-Ezetimibe Combination Therapy on Androgen Production in Hyperandrogenic Women with Elevated Cholesterol Levels

R. Krysiak
1   Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
,
B. Okopien
1   Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 30 July 2014
first decision 30 September 2014

accepted 08 October 2014

Publication Date:
28 October 2014 (online)

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Abstract

Statins decreased serum androgen levels in hyperandrogenemic women with polycystic ovary syndrome. No previous study has investigated whether this effect is dose-dependent and observed in patients simultaneously treated with other hypolipidemic agents. The study included 23 premenopausal women with elevated total testosterone levels coexisting with hypercholesterolemia, unsuccessfully treated for at least 6 months with atorvastatin (20 mg daily). These patients were then treated with either an increased dose of atorvastatin (40 mg daily, n=11) or atorvastatin (20 mg daily) plus ezetimibe (10 mg daily) (n=12). Plasma lipids, glucose homeostasis markers and serum levels of androgens, sex hormone-binding globulin and gonadotropins were assessed at baseline and after 3 months of treatment. Although both treatments decreased plasma levels of total and LDL-cholesterol levels, only high-dose atorvastatin reduced serum levels of total testosterone, free testosterone and androstendione. The effect of high-dose atorvastatin on serum androgen levels did not differ between insulin-resistant and insulin-sensitive subjects. The obtained results suggest that atorvastatin reduces serum androgen levels in a dose-dependent manner and that its administration in a higher dose is associated with a more pronounced effect on serum androgens than combination therapy with low-dose atorvastatin and ezetimibe.

Key words

ezetimibe - hormones - hypercholesterolemia - insulin resistance - polycystic ovary syndrome - statins
 

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