390 Pak J Med Sci 2012 Vol. 28 No. 3 www.pjms.com.pk INTRODUCTION Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive ages, the most common cause of infertility due to ovula- tory disorder and makes up 73% of the causes of hirsutism in this age group. 1,2 Impaired folliculogenesis , hyperandrogenism (acne, hirsutism and alopecia) and abnormal menstrual cycles are seen in 38.4%, 70.3% and 66.2 % of patients, respectively. The diagnosis of the disease is made according to the Netherland criteria when at least two of the three criteria including polycystic ovaries detected by ultrasonography, irregular menstrual bleeding, hyperandrogenism, exist. PCOS‘s etiology is complicated and still unknown, but there is a kind of insulin resistance due to changes of two types of cytochrome p450 producing genes. Various treatments have been proposed for the management of this syndrome. 1. Nazli Navali, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2. Leila Azhary shokoufe, Pharmacist, Faculty of Pharmacy, 3. Fatemeh Mallah, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 4. Parvin Bastani, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 5. Omid Mashrabi, General Physician, Faculty of Medicine, 1,3,4:Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Women›s Reproductive Health Research Center, 1-5: Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Correspondence: Mashrabi Omid, No. 20, Shakeri Alley, Jahad Ave. Imam Street, Ajabshir, East Azarbayjan Province, Postal code: 5541613353, Iran. E-mail: mashrabi1383@yahoo.com * Received for Publication: September 13, 2011 * Accepted: February 28, 2012 Original Article Comparing therapeutic effects of Metformin and Pioglitazone in Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Nazli Navali 1 , Leila Azhary Shokoufe 2 , Fatemeh Mallah 3 , Parvin Bastani 4 , Omid Mashrabi 5 ABSTRACT Objective: To compare therapeutic effects of Metformin and Pioglitazone in Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methodology: In a randomized clinical trial, 100 women with PCOS were recruited during a one year period in Al-Zahra Hospital of Tabriz. These patients were randomized into two groups of 50 patients receiving either Metformin 500 mg(TDS), or Pioglitazone 15 mg(BID), for six months. Clinical and laboratory fndings were compared between the two groups at the baseline and end of the study. Results: Pregnancy frequency was higher in Metformin group. Amelioration of menstrual cycles, hirsutism, and laboratory tests, including FBS, Hyperinsulinemia, oral glucose tolerance test, 2hpps and insulin, free testosterone and prolactin was signifcant in both groups. The change of serum total cholesterol and HDL was not signifcant in the Pioglitazone group. Conclusion: According to our results, Metformin is superior to Pioglitazone due to better infuence on pregnancy and lipid profle. KEY WORDS: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Metformin, Pioglitazone. Pak J Med Sci April - June 2012 Vol. 28 No. 3 390-394 How to cite this article: Navali N, Shokoufe LA, Mallah F, Bastani P, Mashrabi O. Comparing therapeutic effects of Metformin and Pioglitazone in Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Pak J Med Sci 2012;28(3):390-394