The use of danazol as a treatment of endometriosis

During the past 50 years, the medical management of endometriosis has evolved from a primitive clinical art utilizing agents with poor specificity, to a scientific endeavour utilizing pharmacological compounds that are highly specific in their molecular actions and extensively studied in randomized clinical trials. The first medical regimens developed to treat endometriosis utilized high-dose testosterone propionate1 or high-dose diethylstilboesterol2. These regimens were moderately effective in the treatment of endometriosis, but they were associated with major unwanted side-effects, such as virilization in the case of testosterone proprionate therapy1. In the late 1950s Kistner introduced progestin-only3 and pseudopregnancy4 regimens for the treatment of endometriosis. These regimens remained the standard medical therapy until danazol (Figure 13.1) was approved for use in 1976. This chapter will review the clinical pharmacology of danazol, including its mode of action and its therapeutic applications. Preview Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF. Similar content being viewed by others

Wilson, L. (1940). Action of testosterone proprionate in a case of endometriosis. Endocrinology, 27, 29–34 Karnaky, K.J. (1948). The use of stilbesterol for endometriosis. South. Med. J., 41, 1109–1121 Kistner, R.W. (1958). The use of newer progestins in the treatment of endometriosis. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 75, 264–278 Kistner, R.W. (1959). The treatment of endometriosis by inducing pseudo-pregnancy with ovarian hormones: a report of 58 cases. Fertil. Steril., 10, 539–548 Barbieri, R.L. and Ryan, K.J. (1981). Danazol: endocrine pharmacology and therapeutic applications. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 141, 453–463 Barbieri, R.L., Canick, J.A. and Ryan, K.J. (1977). Danazol inhibits steroidogenesis in the rat testis in vitro. Endocrinology, 101, 1676–1682 Barbieri, R.L., Osathanondh, R., Canick, J.A., Stillman, RJ. and Ryan, K.J. (1980). Danazol inhibits human adrenal 21- and 11-hydroxylation in vitro. Steroids, 35, 251–263 Barbieri, R.L., Canick, J.A., Makris, A., Todd, R.B., Davies, I.J. and Ryan, K.J. (1977). Danazol inhibits steroidogenesis. Fertil. Steril., 28, 808–813 Barbieri, R.L., Osathanondh, R. and Ryan, K.J. (1981). Danazol inhibition of steroidogenesis in the human corpus luteum. Obstet. Gynecol., 57, 722–724 Dickerman, Z., Grant, D.R., Faiman, C. and Winter, J.S.D. (1984). Intra-adrenal steroid concentrations in man: zonal differences and developmental changes. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metak., 59, 1031–1036 Couch, R.M, Muller, J., Perry, Y.S. and Winter, J.S.D. (1987). Kinetic analysis of inhibition of human adrenal steroidogenesis by ketoconazole. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 65, 551–554 Stillman, R.J., Fencl, M, Schiff, I., Barbieri, R.L. and Tulchinsky, D. (1980). Inhibition of adrenal steroidogenesis by danazol in vivo. Fertil Steril., 33, 401–406 Steingold, K.A., Lu, J.K.H., Judd, H.L. and Meldrum, D.R. (1986). Danazol inhibits steroidogenesis by the human ovary in vivo. Fertil. Steril., 45, 649–654 Asch, R.H., Fernandez, E.O., Siler-Khodr, T.M., Bartke, A. and Pauerstein, C.J. (1980). Mechanism of induction of luteal phase defects by danazol. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 136, 932–940 Reyniak, J.V. and Gurpide, E. (1982). Effect of danazol on gonadal steroidogenesis in patients with a complete form of testicular feminization. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 142, 479–481 Barbieri, R.L., Lee, H. and Ryan, K.J. (1979). Danazol binding to rat androgen, glucocorticoid, progesterone and estrogen receptors: correlation with biological activity. Fertil Steril., 31, 182–186 Chamness, G.C., Asch, R.H. and Pauerstein, C.J. (1980). Danazol binding and translocation of steroid receptors. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 136, 426–429 Tamaya, T., Furuka, N., Motomyama, T., Boku, S., Ohono, Y. and Okada, N. (1978). Mechanism of antiprogestational action of synthetic steroids. Acta Endocrinol., 88, 190–198 Nilsson, B., Sodergard, R., Damber, M.G. and Von Schouler, B. (1982). Danazol and gestogen displacement of testosterone and influence of sex hormone binding globulin capacity. Fertil Steril., 38, 48–53 Nilsson, B., Sodergard, R., Damber, M.G., Damber, J.E. and Von Schouler, B. (1983). Free testosterone levels during danazol therapy. Fertil Steril., 39, 505–509 Davison, C, Banks, N. and Fritz, A. (1976). The absorption, distribution and metabolic rate of danazol in rats, monkeys and human volunteers. Arch. Int. Pharmacodyn. Ther., 221, 294–298 Desaulles, P.A. and Krabenbuhl, C. (1964). Comparison of the anti-fertility and sex hormone activities of sex hormones and derivatives. Acta Endocrinol., 47, 444–458 Duck, S.C. and Katayama, K.P. (1981). Danazol may cause female pseudohermaphroditism. Fertil Steril., 35, 320–322 Dmowski, W.P., Scholer, H.F.L., Mastesh, V.V. and Greenblatt, R.B. (1971). Danazol, a synthetic steroid derivative with interesting physiologic properties. Fertil Steril., 22, 9–18 Dmowski, W.P., Kaperawakis, E. and Scommegna, A. (1982). Variable effects of danazol on endometriosis at 4 low-dose levels. Obstet. Gynecol., 59, 408–415 Moore, E.E., Harger, J.H., Rock, J.A. and Archer, D.F. (1981). Management of pelvic endometriosis with low dose danazol. Fertil Steril., 36, 15–20 Biberoglou, K.O. and Behrman, S.J. (1981). Dosage aspects of danazol therapy in endometriosis: short-term and long-term effectiveness. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 139, 645–654 Henzl, M.R., Corson, S.L., Moghissi, K., Buttram, V.C., Berqvist, C. and Jacobson, J. (1988). Administration of nasal nafarelin as compared with oral danazol for endometriosis. N. Engl J. Med., 318, 485–589 Barbieri, R.L., Evans, S. and Kistner, R.W. (1982). Danazol in the treatment of endometriosis: analysis of 100 cases with a 4-year follow-up. Fertil. Steril., 37, 737–742 Seibel, M.M., Berger, M.J., Weinstein, F.G. and Taymor, M.L. (1982). The effectiveness of danazol on subsequent fertility in minimal endometriosis. Fertil Steril., 38, 534–537 Bayer, S.R., Seibel, M.M., Saffan, D.S. and Berger, M.J. (1988). The efficacy of danazol treatment for minimal endometriosis in an infertile population: a prospective randomized study. J. Reprod. Med., 33, 179–183 The American Fertility Society. (1985). Revised American Fertility Society classification of endometriosis. Fertil Steril., 43, 351–353 Luciano, A.A., Turksoy, R.N. and Carleo, J. (1988). Evaluation of oral medroxyprogesterone acetate in the treatment of endometriosis. Obstet. Gynecol., 72, 323–327 Hornstein, M.D., Gleason, R.E. and Barbieri, R.L. (1990). A randomized double-blind prospective trial of two doses of gestrinone in the treatment of endometriosis. Fertil Steril., 53, 237–241 Holt, J.P. and Keller, D. (1984). Danazol treatment increases serum enzymes. Fertil Steril., 41, 70–72 Laurell, C.B. and Rannevik, G. (1979). A comparison of plasma protein changes by danazol, pregnancy and estrogens. J. Clin. Endocrinol Metab., 49, 719–725 Barbieri, R.L. (1980). Danazol and thyroid function. Ann. Intern. Med., 92, 133 Telimaa, S., Penttila, I., Puolakka, J., Ronnberg, L. and Kauppila, A. (1989). Circulating lipid and lipoprotein concentrations during danazol and high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy of endometriosis. Fertil. Steril., 52, 31–35 Burry, K.A., Patton, P.E. and Illingsworth, D.R. (1989). Metabolic changes during medical treatment of endometriosis: nafarelin acetate versus danazol. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 160, 1454–1459 Noble, A.D. and Letchworth, A.T. (1979). Medical treatment of endometriosis: a comparative trial. Postgrad. Med. J., 55, 37–41 Dmowski, W.P., Radwanska, E., Binor, Z., Tummon, I. and Pepping, P. (1989). Ovarian suppression induced with buserelin or danazol in the management of endometriosis: a randomized comparative study. Fertil. Steril., 51, 395–400 Dawood, M.Y., Lewis, V. and Ramos, J. (1989). Cortical and trabecular bone mineral content in women with endometriosis: effect of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist and danazol. Fertil. Steril., 51, 21–26 Johansen, J.S., Riis, B.J., Hassager, C., Moen, M., Jacobson, J. and Christiansen, C. (1988). The effect of a gonadotropin releasing hormone analog (nafarelin) on bone metabolism. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 67, 701–706 Matta, W.H., Shaw, R.W., Hesp, R. and Evans, R. (1988). Reversible trabecular bone density loss following induced hypoestrogenism with the GnRH analog, buserelin, in premenopausal women. Clin. Endocrinol., 29, 45–51 Editor information Editors and Affiliations Rights and permissions Copyright information © 1991 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht About this chapter Cite this chapter Barbieri, R.L. (1991). The use of danazol as a treatment of endometriosis. In: Thomas, E.J., Rock, J.A. (eds) Modern Approaches to Endometriosis. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3864-2_13 Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3864-2_13 Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5719-6 Online ISBN: 978-94-011-3864-2 eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.