Endocrine responses to long-term administration of the antiprogesterone RU486 in patients with pelvic endometriosis

L. Michael Kettel, Kettel LM, L M Kettel, A A Murphy, Murphy AA, Ana A. Murphy, Joseph F. Mortola, J F Mortola, Mortola JF, Liu JH, J H Liu, A Ulmann, André Ulmann, Ulmann A, Samuel S.C. Yen, S S Yen, Yen SS
Fertility and Sterility · 1991 · vol. 56(3) , pp. 402–407 · doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)54531-2 · PMID:1716596 · W1463735117
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This study investigated the endocrine effects of prolonged RU486 administration in patients diagnosed with pelvic endometriosis.

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Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine endocrine and clinical responses to long-term administration of RU486 in patients with endometriosis.DesignProspective open trial.SettingFaculty practice of the authors.Patients, participantsSix normally cycling women with endometriosis were recruited.InterventionsSubjects received RU486 100 mg/d for 3 months.Main outcome measure(s)Hormonal changes during RU486 were compared with control data obtained in the preceding cycle during the early follicular phase. Clinical responses were determined by patient assessment and second-look laparoscopy.ResultsAll women became amenorrheic, and daily urinary levels of ovarian steroid metabolites remained acyclic. Mean luteinizing hormone (LH) (P less than 0.02) and LH pulse amplitude (P less than 0.05) were increased without changes in LH pulse frequency. An antiglucocorticoid effect was demonstrated by an increase in serum cortisol (P less than 0.01) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (P less than 0.05) levels. Treatment resulted in an improvement in pelvic pain in all subjects without significant change in the extent of disease as evaluated by follow-up laparoscopy.ConclusionsDaily administration of RU486 results in acyclic ovarian function and improvement in the subjective painful symptoms of endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endocrine Glands Endometriosis Mifepristone Pelvic Neoplasms Progesterone Adolescent Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Adult Amenorrhea Amenorrhea Endocrine Glands Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Hormones Hormones Humans Hydrocortisone

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