Tehran University Medical Journal (Jul 2010)
The effect of metformin on uteroplacental circulation and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Abstract
"n Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Background: Some complications of pregnancy such as abortion, gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery are more common among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Recently it has been reported that metformin treatment during pregnancy reduces pregnancy complications, so this study was conducted to demonstrate the possible effects of metformin on the uteroplacental circulation and pregnancy complications. "n"nMethods: Seventy pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) from 1386 to 1388 were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of metformin during pregnancy in Shariati hospital. Doppler ultrasound examinations of the uterine arteries and umbilical artery were performed at 12th and 20th weeks of gestation. All patients were followed up to the end of pregnancy, then the effect of metformin on the uteroplacental circulation was evaluated by the comparison of the pulsatility index (PI) of uterine arteries and prevalence of obstetric complications between two groups. "n"nResults: The mean reduction of PI in metformin group from 12th to 20th weeks of gestation was 0.38 versus 0.16 in placebo group (p=0.016). Gestational diabetes mellitus, pre-eclampsia and preterm delivery, were more common in pregnant women in placebo group but the difference was not statistically significant. "n"nConclusions: Metformin treatment in pregnancy accompanied with reduced uterine artery impedance between 12 and 20 weeks of gestation but this reduction showed no effect on the pregnancy complications such as preterm delivery, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.
