Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist: how good is the new hope?
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists have been widely used to prevent luteinizing hormone surges during controlled ovarian stimulation in assisted reproductive technologies. Treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists of uterine myoma, endometriosis and some hormone-dependent cancers, such as breast, ovarian, endometrial and prostate cancer, also seems to have a beneficial effect. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists have the disadvantage of inducing an initial stimulatory effect on gonadotropin secretion, necessitating 2-3 weeks before pituitary desensitization is achieved. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists, on the contrary, cause an immediate inhibition of gonadotropin secretion by competitive blocking of pituitary gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors. Some advantages of their clinical use in controlled ovarian stimulation have already been demonstrated. Randomized comparative studies are needed to investigate their benefit over gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists for myoma and hormone-related disorders.
Albano
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C
Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Dutch-speaking Brussels Free University, Belgium. lriaaoc@az.vub.ac.be
Platteau
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P
Devroey
P
P
D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000378:metabolism; D011967:Receptors, Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism
D006062:Gonadotropins; D011967:Receptors, Gonadotropin; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone