Table 2 Characteristics of included studies: baseline characteristics systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials.
Characteristics Among women with PCOS Among women with clomiphene resistant PCOS Salehpour et al. 2009 [17 ] Gayatri et al. 2010 [28 ] Oner and Muderris 2011 [18 ] Salehpour et al. 2012 [19 ] Rizk et al. 2005 [20 ] Elnashar et al. 2007 [14 ] Hashim et al. 2010 [21 ] Nasr 2010 [22 ] NAC/placebo NAC/metformin NAC/metformin NAC/placebo NAC/placebo NAC/metformin NAC/metformin NAC/placebo Total randomized, 46 115 100 180 153 64 192 60 Randomised, 46 56/59 50 /50 90/90 NA 32/32 95/97 30/30 Completed, 36 50/50 45/31 82/85 75/75 30/31 97/95 30/30 Total, 36 100 76 167 150 61 192 60 Attrition rate 21.7% 13% 24% 7% 2% 4.7% 0% 0% Baseline Characteristics Age, years 27.2 (5.4) 27.8 (6.1) 22.6 (3.8); 23.2 (4.1) 23.7 (4.4); 22.6 (4.8) 27.22 (3.32); 27.41 (3.41) 28.9 (4.7); 28.4 (5.7) 27.33 (3.35); 26.73 (5.36) 27.3 (2.6); 26.8 (2.2) 28.4 (4.2); 29.2 (3.7) Weight, kg 74.1 (11.7) 74.1 (13.2) 70.5 (3.45); 69.8 (8.32) NA NA 101.3 (12.4); 99.2 (12.3) NA NA NA BMI, kg/m2 29.5 (4.1) 29.5 (4.4) 26.54 (2.35); 27.28 (3.25) 23 (4.6); 24.3 (6.2) 26.78 (2.24); 26.67 (2.01) 30.5 (2.6); 30.1 (3.1) 25.8 (0.94); 26.8 (1.52) 26.6 (2.2); 26.3 (2.3) 28.6 (3.7); 29.1 (4.2) Amenorrhea patients (%) 2 (11.1%) 2 (11.1%) 4 (8%); 4 (8%) NA NA NA NA 6 (6.3%); 7 (7.2%) 5 (17%); 6 (20%) Oligomenorrhea, (%) NA 29 (58%); 30 (60%) NA NA NA 76.7 (23); 77.4 (24) 89 (93.7%); 90 (92.8%) NA Hirsutism, (%) 11 (61.1%) 10 (55.6%) 2 (4%); 3 (6%) NA NA NA NA NA 16 (53%); 18 (60%) Acne, (%) 5 (27.8%) 5 (27.8%) 1 (2); 2 (4) NA NA NA NA NA NA Duration of Infertility, mean (SD) 4.5 (2.2) 4.2 (3.3) 10 (20); 8 (16) NA 4.39 (1.96); 4.45 (1.94) 5 (2.9); 4.4 (2.6) NA 4.5 (1.2); 4.7 (1.3) 5.3 (1.9); 4.9 (2.1) Testosterone level, nmol/dL, mean (SD) 0.91 (0.48) 1.01 (0.45) 1.55 (0.29); 1.65 (0.24) 80.8 (41.1); 86.1 (48.4) NA NA 98.27 (31.5); 106.5 (44.6) 1.06 (0.27); 1.03 (0.31) NA FPG, mg/dL, mean (SD) 95.6 (10.9) 96.8 (27.7) 88.53 (5.14); 87.65 (4.34) 88.5 (6.8); 88.9 (7.4) NA 81.9 (12.6); 85.9 (14.1) 83.3 (8.8); 85.9 (9.4) 91.3 (1.5); 89.6 (1.4) NA HOMA-IR 5.22 (5.58); 4.9 (4.2) 5.52 (1.35); 5.42 (1.36) 4.5 (1.2); 4.3 (0.9) NA NA NA NA NA