Effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate on serum insulin and growth hormone levels in diabetics and potential diabetics.

Abstract

The effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA;6alpha-methylacetoxyprogesterone;Depo-Provera) treatment on the response of serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and growth hormone (GH) during glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity tests were studied in patients with potential and overt diabetes mellitus. 6 patients received 1 intramuscular injection of 150 mg of MPA per month for 2 months and 6 patients received 150 mg of MPA every 3 months for periods of 3 to 12 months. The frequency of injections did not appear to influence the results. The response to MPA was different in potential diabetics and diabetics. In potential diabetics a transient increase in immunoreactive insulin secretion was observed during the first 2 months of MPA. After 3 months glucose tolerance became impaired and immunoreactive insulin secretion returned to initial levels. In diabetics glucose tolerance deteriorated promptly and immunoreactive insulin levels decreased at 1/2 and 1 hour. In spite of the higher blood glucose levels the percentage decrease in blood glucose from the fasting levels during the insulin sensitivity test remained unchanged in both groups. MPA increased the ambulatory fasting levels of immunoreactive growth hormone and inhibited GH release in response to intravenous insulin. MPA induced no significant changes in fasting levels of triglycerides or free fatty acids.