The reproductive and metabolic effect of rosiglitazone on Chinese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome-a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study

ObjectiveTo investigate whether an insulin sensitizer has any effect on amenorrhea and clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism in Chinese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).DesignRandomized controlled double-blind trial.SettingA tertiary referral center, Hong Kong.Patient(s)Chinese women who fulfilled the Rotterdam criteria of PCOS (n = 70).Intervention(s)Rosiglitazone 4 mg daily for the first month followed by 4 mg twice daily for 11 months.Main Outcome Measure(s)Menstrual status as well as clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism.Result(s)There is a significantly higher rate of regular menses among the treatment arm (16 [50.0%] of 32 vs 4 [11.8%] of 34) at 6 months and the improvement appeared to be sustained (10 [41.7%] of 24 vs 6 [20.0%] of 30) at 12 months. There was no change in the acne and hirsutism scores as well as serum T levels in both arms.Conclusion(s)We found a possible benefit in menstrual cyclicity but a lack of improvement in hyperandrogenism in our Chinese population.Clinical Trial Registration NumberChiCTR-TRC-09000670 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry).