Local drug release systems in endometriosis

Felice Petraglia, Stefano Luisi
Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology · 2007 · vol. 23(11) , pp. 662–664 · doi:10.1080/09513590701582216 · PMID:17999278 · W2143541998
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This review discusses progestin delivery via intrauterine or vaginal administration as a strategy to improve endometriosis treatment efficacy and patient compliance by minimizing systemic side effects.

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Abstract

n recent years, the research involved to clarify the mechanisms of endometriosis development has opened up new innovative treatments. In fact, not only have new drugs been studied but also new routes of administration for hormones have been investigated. The intrauterine and/or vaginal administration of progestins, such as levonorgestrel and danazol, seems to answer to some problems related to the long-term management of endometriosis in terms of efficacy and compliance. \n \nThe medical treatment of endometriosis is significantly influenced by poor compliance and several systemic side-effects. In fact, although a wide armory of medical therapies already exists, the choice depends on patient preference after an appropriate discussion of risks, side-effects and costs. Concerning the hormonal treatment of this pelvic pathology, the European Society for Human Reproduction & Embryology guidelines [1] Kennedy S, Bergqvist A, Chapron C, D'Hooghe T, Dunselman G, Greb R, Hummelshoj L, Prentice A, Saridogan E, on behalf of the ESHRE Special Interest Group for Endometriosis and Endometrium Guideline Development Group. ESHRE guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. Hum Reprod 2005; 20: 2698–2704 \n[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], , [Google Scholar] \n for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis affirm (level of evidence A) that ‘suppression of ovarian function for 6 months reduces endometriosis associated pain’. The hormonal drugs investigated (combined oral contraceptives, danazol, gestrinone, medroxyprogesterone acetate and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists) are equally effective, but their side-effects and cost profiles differ.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Administration, Intravaginal Administration, Intravaginal Danazol Danazol Danazol Endometriosis Endometriosis Estrogen Antagonists Estrogen Antagonists Estrogen Antagonists Female Female Humans Humans Levonorgestrel Levonorgestrel Levonorgestrel Uterus Uterus

Citation neighborhood (2-hop)

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. Outer rings show 2-hop neighbours — papers reached through the immediate citers/citees. [ collapse to 1-hop ]

References (14)

Cited by (2)

Source provenance

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