Aromatasehemmer in der Therapie der Endometriose

In: Gynäkologische Endokrinologie · 2006 · vol. 4(3) , pp. 174–180 · doi:10.1007/s10304-006-0156-7 · W19754226
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This review elucidates the role of aromatase in endometriosis pathogenesis and evaluates aromatase inhibitors as a potential treatment option.

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This review examines the role of aromatase in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and summarizes existing clinical experience with aromatase inhibitors as potential therapies. It discusses that standard endometriosis treatment aims for a hypoestrogenic state using agents such as progestins, gestagen-focused contraceptives, GnRH analogues, and danazol, and notes limitations including insufficient symptom relief, recurrence, and side effects in some patients. The paper’s key conclusion is that aromatase inhibitors may represent an alternative therapeutic option based on new research linking aromatase to endometriosis biology, while the overall caveat is that the evidence is framed as “current insights” and “clinical experience,” without providing a single definitive trial result within the review text. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it focuses on aromatase biology and aromatase inhibitors as a treatment option for endometriosis.

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Zusammenfassung Die Endometriose ist eine der häufigsten gutartigen Erkrankungen der Frau im reproduktionsfähigen Alter. Hauptsymptome sind chronische Unterbauchschmerzen und Infertilität. Die Pathogenese der Endometriose ist bisher unzulänglich geklärt. Es erfolgt daher eine vornehmlich symptomatische Therapie. Ziel der medikamentösen Therapie ist das Erreichen eines hypoöstrogenen Zustandes. Die bis heute überwiegend eingesetzten Medikamente sind reine Gestagene, gestagenbetonte Kontrazeptiva, GnRH-Analoga und Danazol. Diese Medikamente sind zum Teil mit erheblichen Nebenwirkungen verbunden. Bei einigen Patientinnen kann es auch bei Anwendung dieser Therapeutika zu keiner ausreichenden Besserung der Symptomatik oder zu einem Endometrioserezidiv kommen. Neue Erkenntnisse in der Endometrioseforschung erlauben den Einsatz neuer medikamentöser Therapieoptionen. Aromatasehemmer sind möglicherweise eine Therapiealternative. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, aktuelle Erkenntnisse über die Aromatase in der Pathogenese der Endometriose zu beschreiben und bisherige klinische Erfahrungen mit Aromatasehemmern in der Endometriosetherapie darzustellen. Abstract Endometriosis is one of the most common benign diseases in women of reproductive age, causing chronic pelvic pain and contributing to infertility. The underlying mechanism and pathophysiology are still poorly understood. Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease, therefore standard treatment aims at inducing hypoestrogenism or antagonizing estrogen action with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRH), progestins, contraceptives and danazol. For some patients, recurrence of endometriosis, insufficient pain relief or side-effects are characteristic of treatment with these drugs. According to the literature aromatase inhibitors have the potential to be a new treatment option in the therapy of endometriosis. The aim of this review is to elucidate the role of aromatase in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and to evaluate aromatase inhibitors as a treatment option of endometriosis. Similar content being viewed by others Literatur Ailawadi RK et al. (2004) Treatment of endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain with letrozole and norethindrone acetate: a pilot study. Fertil Steril 81(2): 290–296 Amsterdam LL et al. (2005) Anastrazole and oral contraceptives: a novel treatment for endometriosis. Fertil Steril 84(2): 300–304 Attar E, Bulun SE (2006) Aromatase inhibitors: the next generation of therapeutics for endometriosis? Fertil Steril 85(5): 1307–1318 Baum M. et al. (2002) Anastrozole alone or in combination with tamoxifen versus tamoxifen alone for adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with early breast cancer: first results of the ATAC randomised trial. 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Mol Endocrinol 13(2): 239–253 Zeitoun KM, Bulun SE (1999) Aromatase: a key molecule in the pathophysiology of endometriosis and a therapeutic target. Fertil Steril 72(6): 961–969 Interessenkonflikt Es besteht kein Interessenkonflikt. Der korrespondierende Autor versichert, dass keine Verbindungen mit einer Firma, deren Produkt in dem Artikel genannt ist, oder einer Firma, die ein Konkurrenzprodukt vertreibt, bestehen. Die Präsentation des Themas ist unabhängig und die Darstellung der Inhalte produktneutral. Author information Authors and Affiliations Corresponding author Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Juhasz-Böss, I., Treeck, O., Malik, E. et al. Aromatasehemmer in der Therapie der Endometriose. Gynäkologische Endokrinologie 4, 174–180 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10304-006-0156-7 Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10304-006-0156-7

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