Aim of the work:
The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of clomiphene citrate (CC) alone versus CC plus N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and CC plus chromium picolinate (CrP) in management of PCOS.
Patients and Methods:
This study, accomplished on 120 women with PCOS and fulfilling Rotterdam criteria 2003. Patients were divided into three equal groups; the First Group (n=40) given out NAC plus CC. The second group (n=40) administered CrP plus CC. The last group (n=40) dispensed CC alone.
Results:
The number of follicles (≥18 mm), mean endometrial thickness on the day of hCG administration and number of pregnancies were higher among PCOS cases given NAC+CC group than CrP+CC and CC alone cases. No adverse side-effects and one case of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome observed in the group receiving CC+NAC.
Conclusion:
NAC is a safe and well-tolerated adjuvant to CC. It improves follicular maturation and pregnancy rate in PCOS patients. In addition, chromium picolinate does not improve follicular maturation or pregnancy rate when added to CC in women with PCOS.
Author(s): EL-Gharib MN and Osman AM