title: The effect of danazol and the LHRH agonist analogue goserelin (Zoladex) on the biological activity of luteinizing hormone in women with endometriosis.
abstract: In an attempt to determine whether the suppression in oestradiol levels caused by danazol is due to an effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, we compared the endocrine effects of danazol with those of the LHRH (GnRH) agonist analogue goserelin. Serum levels of immunoreactive LH (I-LH), FSH, 17 beta-oestradiol (E2) and bioactive LH (B-LH) (using a mouse Leydig cell bioassay), were measured in ten and 20 women with endometriosis treated with danazol and goserelin, respectively. I-LH was measured both by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). During 6 months of treatment with 600 mg of danazol daily, mean serum E2 decreased (P less than 0.05) to levels near the upper limit of the post-menopausal range (to a mean (and 95% confidence interval of the mean) of 117 (65-169) pmol/l) whereas FSH, I-LH (both by RIA and IRMA) and B-LH levels were not significantly altered. During 6 months of treatment with monthly depot injections of 3.6 mg goserelin, mean serum E2 decreased (P less than 0.001) to well within the post-menopausal range (to 23 (18-28) pmol/l). The mean FSH, I-LH and B-LH levels also decreased (P less than 0.05) during therapy with goserelin (from 3.9 (3.1-4.7) to 2.0 (1.6-2.4) IU/l for FSH, from 5.3 (4.5-6.1) to 1.9 (1.7-2.1) IU/l for RIA-LH, from 2.9 (2.5-3.3) to less than 0.5 (less than 0.5) IU/l for IRMA-LH and from 9.1 (7.1-11.1) to 2.9 (2.6-3.2) IU/l for B-LH).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors: Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, London, UK.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Maouris
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Dowsett
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Rose
authors: D K
authors: DK
authors: Edmonds
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Rothwell
authors: W R
authors: WR
authors: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002064:Buserelin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003613:Danazol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D017273:Goserelin; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017273:Goserelin; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D003613:Danazol; D002064:Buserelin