title: Long-term naltrexone treatment normalizes the pituitary response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone in polycystic ovarian syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of opioid system on the exaggerated LH response to GnRH test in the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pituitary stimulation (GnRH 100 micrograms) in a group of PCOS patients under basal condition and after 4 weeks of treatment with naltrexone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the PCOS group, the naltrexone treatment determines a significant reduction of the LH response (calculated as the area under curve) to GnRH test, with a similar significant decrease of the LH:FSH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Naltrexone normalizes in the PCOS group the pituitary response to GnRH test, abolishing every statistical differences with the control group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanzone
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Apa
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fulghesu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cutillo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mancuso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D009271:Naltrexone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone