Efficacy of exenatide on weight loss, metabolic parameters and pregnancy in overweight/obese polycystic ovary syndrome

ContextWeight loss remains one of the most important arms in obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Further studies are needed to identify the best treatment. ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of exenatide (EXE) on reproductive and metabolic function in overweight/obese (OW/OB) PCOS. DesignThis is a 24-week open-label prospective, randomized, clinical study. Patients and MeasurementsThis study randomized 176 OW/OB women diagnosed with PCOS to receive either EXE 10g BID (n=88) or metformin (MET) 1000mg BID (n=88) for the first 12weeks. Then all patients were treated with MET alone during the second 12weeks. We observed metabolic parameters at 0 and 12weeks, and then tracked the rate of pregnancy during the second 12weeks. ResultsAfter the first 12weeks of intervention, compared with MET, subjects who received EXE had significantly decreased weight (4.291.29kg vs 2.28 +/- 0.55kg, P<.001) and total fat% (4.67 +/- 0.09% vs 1.11 +/- 0.32%, P<.001), improved the homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance (1.30 +/- 0.58 vs 0.59 +/- 0.12, P<.001) and increased the menstrual frequency ratio (0.62 +/- 0.12 vs 0.37 +/- 0.01, P<.001). During the second 12weeks, the rate of natural pregnancy of EXE-treated patients was significantly higher than MET-treated patients (43.60% vs 18.70%, P<.05). ConclusionsShort-term EXE therapy was linked to significant weight loss and central adiposity reduction, which may further explain the improvements in insulin resistance, inflammatory marker and menstrual cycle, which may contribute to increasing pregnancy rates in OW/OB women with PCOS.