Use of dexamethasone and clomiphene citrate in the treatment of clomiphene citrate-resistant patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and normal dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels: a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of short-course administration of dexamethasone (DEX) combined with clomiphene citrate (CC) in CC-resistant patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and normal DHEAS levels.

DESIGN

Prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study.

SETTING

Referral university hospitals.

PATIENT(S): Two hundred thirty women with PCOS and normal DHEAS who failed to ovulate after a routine protocol of CC.

INTERVENTION(S): The treatment group received 200 mg of CC from day 5 to day 9 and 2 mg of DEX from day 5 to day 14 of the menstrual cycle. The control group received the same protocol of CC combined with placebo.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Follicular development, hormonal status, ovulation rate, pregnancy rate.

RESULT(S): Mean follicular diameters were 18.4124 +/- 2.4314 mm and 13.8585 +/- 2.0722 mm for the treatment and control groups, respectively. Eighty-eight percent of the treatment group and 20% of the control group had evidence of ovulation. The difference in the cumulative pregnancy rate in the treatment and control groups was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION(S): Hormonal levels, follicular development, and cumulative pregnancy rates improved with the addition of DEX to CC in CC-resistant patients with PCOS and normal DHEAS. This regimen is recommended before any gonadotropin therapy or surgical intervention.