Danazol treatment increases serum enzyme levels

Six of seven women treated for endometriosis with daily administrations of 800 mg of danazol over 4.7 to 9 months developed one or more mildly abnormal serum enzyme levels. All seven patients had normal pretreatment enzyme levels and were evaluated after 2.5 to 5 months of drug therapy and again 1 to 2.5 months following completion of drug therapy. Danazol therapy was associated with statistically significant increases in the following serum enzyme levels: creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase. Mean serum enzyme increases ranged from 25% to 86% greater than the mean pre-drug-therapy level. Alkaline phosphatase levels were not altered by the danazol treatment. Following completion of danazol therapy, all enzyme levels were within the normal range except serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, which was approaching normal. High-dose danazol treatment (800 mg daily) is associated with mild elevations of specific serum enzymes, and these changes appear to resolve spontaneously after cessation of treatment.