Effects of danazol at the immunologic level in patients with adenomyosis, with special reference to autoantibodies: a multi-center cooperative study.
OBJECTIVE
We attempted to evaluate the effects of danazol on autoantibodies, in particular, to phospholipids, and on the immune system in patients with adenomyosis.


METHODS
Forty-two patients with adenomyosis who had high titers of autoantibodies were randomly chosen, and they received 400 mg/day of danazol for 4 months (n = 22) or underwent hysterectomy (n = 20).


RESULTS
Among the six autoantibodies we investigated, the incidence of antiphosphatidylinositol immunoglobulin G was the highest (42.9%), followed by antiphosphatidylglycerol immunoglobulin G (38.1%). The autoantibody titers decreased with time and were comparable to the control values 16 weeks after treatment in both groups. Total serum levels of immunoglobulin G and M were high before treatment, but immunoglobulin M levels decreased significantly in week 8 during treatment with danazol, whereas C4 levels increased and C3 levels decreased with danazol.


CONCLUSIONS
Danazol has an inhibitory effect on the autoimmunologic response associated with adenomyosis.
Ota
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akita Kumiai General Hospital, Japan.
Maki
M
M
Shidara
Y
Y
Kodama
H
H
Takahashi
H
H
Hayakawa
M
M
Fujimori
R
R
Kushima
T
T
Ohtomo
K
K
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D003613:Danazol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology; D011184:Postoperative Period
D001323:Autoantibodies; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D003613:Danazol