Clinical aspects of LHRH analogues in gynaecology: a review.
LHRH agonists are synthetic peptide analogues of hypothalamic luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) with superior potency and longer duration of gonadotrophin release. Paradoxically, repeated administration causes pituitary desensitization with diminished gonadotrophin and oestradiol secretion. A state of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism is reversibly induced; plasma oestrogen can be reduced to castrate levels. LHRH agonists reliably induce anovulation but are unlikely to replace existing contraceptive methods in most normal women. By contrast these agents offer, for the first time, the prospect of inducing a reversible pseudomenopause essentially free of side-effects. LHRH analogues promise to have a profound impact upon the management of a diverse range of oestrogen-dependent gynaecological diseases both benign and malignant. In particular, they may shortly become the gynaecological treatment of choice in endometriosis, as well as becoming part of the management of common gynaecological disorders such as dysfunctional uterine bleeding and uterine fibroids.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D002064:Buserelin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006728:Hormones; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000139:chemically induced; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000188:drug therapy; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D006728:Hormones; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D002064:Buserelin