Long-Term Treatment of Endometriosis with LHRH Agonists Using Slow Release Systems

Six patients suffering from endometriosis (Acosta stages I to III) were treated by luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists (LHRH-A). In 3 of the 6 patients buserelin (Hoechst AG, FRG) was subcutaneously infused using an osmotic minipump system (2 ML1, Alza Corp., USA) over a 12-week period. In the residual 3 patients decapeptyl (Ferring AG, FRG) encapsulated in biodegradable microcapsules was intramusculary injected every 4 weeks over a 22to 35-week period. 17ß-Estradiol plasma levels declined into castration range within 8-17 days. The data obtained indicate the clinical utility of LHRH-A slow release systems.