Open AccessUse of Goserelin Depot, A Gonadotropin‐Releasing Hormone Agonist, for the Treatment of Menorrhagia and Severe Anemia in Women with Leiomyomata Uteri
Author(s) -
Candiani Giovanni Battista,
Vercellini Paolo,
Fedele Luigi,
Arcaini Luisa,
Bianchi Stefano,
Candiani Massimo
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349009013304
Subject(s) - medicine , goserelin , gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist , hypoestrogenism , anemia , hematocrit , gynecology , uterine fibroids , hormone , gonadotropin releasing hormone , luteinizing hormone , cancer , breast cancer
Menorrhagia is the most frequent symptom in women with leiomyomata uteri. We induced transient hypoestrogenism with a gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonist, goserelin (Zoladex, I. C. I.), in a depot formulation, to resolve severe anemia in 16 women with uterine myomas. Subcutaneous administration of goserelin 3.6 mg was repeated every 28 days for 6 months. Thirteen patients became amenorrheic in 5 weeks and 3 reported scanty bleeding. Estradiol fell to postmenopausal levels after one month's treatment with hormonal surges on only three occasions. Uterine volume decreased by 49% after 3 months’ treatment but subsequent reduction was not achieved. Mean hemoglobin rose from 7.4 g/dl pretreatment to 13.2 g/dl at 3 months (+ 78.3%) and mean hematocrit from 26.1% to 39.8% (+52.4%) without any further improvement. Serum ferritin increased constantly during the 6 months. Goserelin depot therapy in severely anemic patients with leiomyomas and menorraghia is practical, safe and may avoid the need for preoperative transfusion.