The effect of danazol on pulsatile gonadotropin secretion in women with endometriosis

Maouris P, P Maouris, Dowsett M, M Dowsett, Mitch Dowsett, D K Edmonds, Douglas Keith Edmonds, Edmonds DK, D. W. Sullivan, D Sullivan, Sullivan D
Fertility and sterility · 1991 · vol. 55(5) , pp. 890–894 · doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)54294-0 · PMID:1902419 · W2474982613
article OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 7 in-corpus citations
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This study investigated how danazol influences the pulsatile release of gonadotropins in women diagnosed with endometriosis.

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Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine whether the effect of danazol on gonadotropin pulsatility was due to a direct effect of the drug or the suppression in the estradiol (E2) levels.DesignProspective analysis of serial blood samples at 10-minute intervals for 5 hours on days 3, 4, or 5 of the control cycle and 2 months after the start of danazol treatment.SettingTertiary institutional outpatient care.Patients, participantsSix eugonadal women with minimal endometriosis.InterventionsOral administration of danazol, 200 mg three times daily.Main outcome measuresGonadotropin mean levels, pulse frequency, and amplitude.ResultsThe mean level of E2 was the same in the control cycle as that during danazol treatment (170 pmol/L). Danazol administration resulted in a 16% increase in the mean luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse amplitude (95% confidence interval [CI] 6% to 26%, P less than 0.01), associated with a 20% decrease in LH pulse frequency (95% CI -71% to +31%, P = 0.37). There was a nonsignificant increase in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) pulse amplitude (2%, 95% CI -9% to +14%, P = 0.68) and in FSH pulse frequency (27%, 95% CI -4% to +58%, P = 0.08). The 22% decrease in the mean LH level (95% CI -85% to +12%, P = 0.13) and the 20% decrease in the mean FSH level (95% CI -53% to +37%, P = 0.33) were also not significant.ConclusionsThe increase in LH pulse amplitude represents a direct effect of danazol on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Danazol Endometriosis Follicle Stimulating Hormone Luteinizing Hormone Periodicity Adult Danazol Endometriosis Estradiol Estradiol Female Follicle Stimulating Hormone Humans Luteinizing Hormone

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