Letrozole combined with gestrinone compared with gestrinone alone in the treatment of endometriosis

Abstract

Abstract: AIM: To compare the efficacy of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole combined with gestrinone versus gestrinone alone in treating endometriosis.METHODS: 78 endometriosis patients were randomly divided into two groups:38 patients in letrozole + gestrinone group(LE+GE)and 40 patients in gestrinone alone group(GE). Letrozole (2.5 mg/day) and gestrinone(2.5 mg,2 times per week) were administered in LE+GE group and gestrinone(2.5 mg,2 times per week) were administered in GE group. The treatment was started on the first day of menstruation and continued for 6 months. Each patient completed visual analogue scale (VAS) of dysmenorrhea and pelvic tenderness before the onset of therapy, at the firs menorrhea and at 6 -month follow-up after the completion of treatment, assayed for serum CA-125 concentration and measured ovrian cyst size by ultrasonography at same time.RESULTS: The intensity of dysmenorrhea were significantly decreased at the first menorrhea and at 6 -month follow-up after the completion of treatment both in LE+GE group and GE group, but the drop VAS scale in LE+GE group was more obvious than that in GE group(t=2.54, P<0.05;t=3.23,P<0.05). At the first menorrhea after the completion of treatment, pelvic tenderness had released in two groups, but VAS score in LE+GE group had more sharply dropped than those in GE group (t=2.73, P<0.05). VAS score of pelvic tenderness pick-up in two groups at 6 -month follow-up after the completion of treatment (t=1.76,P>0.05). The serum CA-125 levels had dropped in two groups at the first menorrhea after the completion of treatment, but diffrentiaton was not signifcant (t=1.29, P>0.05). The serum CA-125 levels pick-up in two groups at 6 -month follow-up after the completion of treatment (t=1.82, P<0.05). Maximum diameter of ovarian cysts did not change significantly in each group after 6 -month treatment (t=0.86, P>0.05;t=1.51, P>0.05). No patients with from the study because of adverse effects.CONCLUSION: Letrozole combined with gestrinone was more effective in reducing dysmenorrhea caused by endometriosis than gestrinone alone, but to inhibit endometriosis lesions was no better than gestrinone alone.

Key words: Endometriosis, Pain, Letrozole, Gestrinone

CLC Number:

R711.71

SHI Shao-quan, HONG Ting, JIANG Fang-fang, WANG Gui-rong, WANG Feng. Letrozole combined with gestrinone compared with gestrinone alone in the treatment of endometriosis[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2013, 18(11): 1275-1279.

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