title: Interval bone mineral density with long-term gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist suppression.
abstract: Twenty-six patients of mean age 37 +/- 4.8 (SD) years, who received a 6-month course of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue, were selected for study. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-photon absorptiometry before initiation and after completion of agonist therapy. Mean BMD (g/cm2) by dual-photon absorptiometry at L2 to L4, femoral neck, Ward's triangle, and the trochanteric area did not change significantly (P = not significant [NS]) after 6 months of GnRH analogue suppression. Mean percent (%) expected density as standardized for age, weight, and sex remained in the range of 89.3% to 94.2% (P = NS). The interval detectable change in BMD after therapy was 0.05 +/- 0.06 g/cm2. These findings are reassuring with respect to the use of long-term GnRH analogue regimens to induce a hypoestrogenic state in the treatment of hormone-dependent conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Damewood
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Schlaff
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hesla
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rock
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects*; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones; D004958:Estradiol