title: Use of goserelin depot, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, for the treatment of menorrhagia and severe anemia in women with leiomyomata uteri.
abstract: 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 menorrhagia is practical, safe and may avoid the need for preoperative transfusion.
authors: 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan School of Medicine, Italy.
authors: G B
authors: GB
authors: Candiani
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Vercellini
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Fedele
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Arcaini
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Bianchi
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Candiani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002064:Buserelin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D017273:Goserelin; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000150:complications*; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D017273:Goserelin; D002064:Buserelin