Does Cabergoline help in decreasing endometrioma size compared to LHRH agonist? A prospective randomized study

Hamid AM, Amr M Salaheldin Abdel Hamid, Wael A. Ismail Madkour, Moawad A, Ashraf Moawad, Mohamed Abd Elzaher, Elzaher MA, M. P. Roberts, Roberts MP, Mary P. Roberts
Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2014 · vol. 290(4) , pp. 677–682 · doi:10.1007/s00404-014-3242-4 · PMID:24748338 · W2129779878
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06+body, 2026-06-27 ⓘ

This prospective study found that Cabergoline significantly decreased endometrioma size in more patients (64.7%) compared to LHRH agonist (21.7%) over 12 weeks.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-07, 2026-07-09 · read from full text ⓘ

This prospective randomized study compared cabergoline (0.5 mg twice weekly for 12 weeks) versus the LHRH agonist triptorelin (3.75 mg monthly for 3 months) for reducing endometrioma size in 140 eligible patients at two private medical centers in the UAE. Endometrioma size was assessed using vaginal ultrasound before and after treatment by a blinded sonography team, with “significant effectiveness” defined as a >25% reduction from baseline. Cabergoline achieved significant size reduction in 64.7% of patients (46/71) compared with 21.7% (15/69) in the triptorelin group (p < 0.05), and the authors attribute the effect to antiangiogenic action via VEGFR-2 inactivation. An Editorial Expression of Concern has been published for this paper; the limitation explicitly noted in the provided text is that this concern exists. This paper is centrally about endometriosis—specifically, it tests cabergoline versus an LHRH agonist to decrease endometrioma size.

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Abstract

AimThe aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of dopamine agonist, Cabergoline, in decreasing the size of endometrioma, with that of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist, triptorelin acetate.StudyThis was a prospective, randomized study.SettingThe setting was in two private medical centers in the UAE, from January 2011 to February 2012.Patients and methodsOne hundred and forty patients complaining of endometrioma, and fulfilling the eligibility criteria, were chosen and divided into two groups as follows: Group I comprised 71 patients; all of them received Cabergoline tablets, 0.5 mg tablets, twice per week for 12 weeks. Group II comprised 69 patients; all of them received LHRH agonist, decapeptyl, 3.75 mg subcutaneous, single injection, once a month for 3 months. All patients underwent vaginal ultrasound before and after the treatment period to compare the change in the size of endometrioma by the same sonography team in each hospital that was blind to the treatment groups.OutcomeThe outcome was measured by the changes in the endometrioma size by vaginal ultrasound after completion of the 3 months' treatment period. The management line was considered to be significantly effective if the endometrioma size was reduced by more than 25 % of its original pretreatment size.ResultsGroup I: 46 out of the 71 patients (64.7 %) had significant decrease in endometrioma size. Group II: 15 out of 69 patients (21.7 %) had significant decrease in endometrioma size. Paired t test to compare the means of the two groups was highly significant (p < 0.05) CONCLUSION: Cabergoline (dostinex) yields better results in decreasing the size of endometrioma, compared to LHRH-agonist by exerting antiangiogenic effects through vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) inactivation. It has no major side effects, easier to administer, and cheaper than LHRH agonists.
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Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of dopamine agonist, Cabergoline, in decreasing the size of endometrioma, with that of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist, triptorelin acetate. Study This was a prospective, randomized study. Setting The setting was in two private medical centers in the UAE, from January 2011 to February 2012. Patients and methods One hundred and forty patients complaining of endometrioma, and fulfilling the eligibility criteria, were chosen and divided into two groups as follows: Group I comprised 71 patients; all of them received Cabergoline tablets, 0.5 mg tablets, twice per week for 12 weeks. Group II comprised 69 patients; all of them received LHRH agonist, decapeptyl, 3.75 mg subcutaneous, single injection, once a month for 3 months. All patients underwent vaginal ultrasound before and after the treatment period to compare the change in the size of endometrioma by the same sonography team in each hospital that was blind to the treatment groups. Outcome The outcome was measured by the changes in the endometrioma size by vaginal ultrasound after completion of the 3 months’ treatment period. The management line was considered to be significantly effective if the endometrioma size was reduced by more than 25 % of its original pretreatment size.

Results

Group I: 46 out of the 71 patients (64.7 %) had significant decrease in endometrioma size. Group II: 15 out of 69 patients (21.7 %) had significant decrease in endometrioma size. Paired t test to compare the means of the two groups was highly significant (p < 0.05)

Conclusion

Cabergoline (dostinex) yields better results in decreasing the size of endometrioma, compared to LHRH-agonist by exerting antiangiogenic effects through vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) inactivation. It has no major side effects, easier to administer, and cheaper than LHRH agonists. Similar content being viewed by others Change history 05 March 2026 An Editorial Expression of Concern to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-026-08374-7

References

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Arch Gynecol Obstet 290, 677–682 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3242-4 Received: Accepted: Published: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3242-4

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Condition tags

endometriosisendometrioma

MeSH descriptors

Dopamine Agonists Endometriosis Ergolines Genital Diseases, Female Luteolytic Agents Triptorelin Pamoate Administration, Oral Adult Cabergoline Dopamine Agonists Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Ergolines Female Genital Diseases, Female Genital Diseases, Female Genital Diseases, Female Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone

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