Pituitary function before, during, and after chronic gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine possible adverse effects on pituitary function of long-term administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a).


METHODS
Prospective analysis of blood sampling before, during, and after GnRH-a therapy.


METHODS
Tertiary institutional outpatient care.


METHODS
Twelve normally ovulatory women with a diagnosis of endometriosis.


METHODS
Six-month suppression with GnRH-a.


METHODS
Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, free thyroxin index, cortisol (F), growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).


RESULTS
Basal and stimulated values of gonadotropins, PRL, F, TSH, and GH were normal and unchanged by 6 months of GnRH-a after resumption of menses.


CONCLUSIONS
Utilizing dynamic pituitary function tests, we were unable to demonstrate an adverse effect of long-term GnRH-a therapy on pituitary function.
Cedars
M I
MI
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California-Los Angeles.
Steingold
K A
KA
Lu
J H
JH
Judd
H J
HJ
Meldrum
D R
DR
D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone; C029256:histrelin; D013974:Thyroxine; D006854:Hydrocortisone