Metabolic effects associated with high-dose continuous megestrol acetate administration in the treatment of endometrial pathology.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the metabolic effects and efficacy of high-dose continuous megestrol acetate administration in the treatment of endometrial pathology.


METHODS
27 women with histologically proven endometrial pathology (endometrial hyperplasia and irregularly proliferative endometrium) were treated with megestrol acetate orally 160 mg/d given once-a-day for 3 months. In 5 of 27 patients the dose of megestrol acetate was increased to 320 mg/d to alleviate irregular uterine bleeding. Serum lipid profiles and fasting and 2-h postprandial serum glucose levels were studied at baseline and one week after the therapy was completed.


RESULTS
HDL-cholesterol level significantly lowered from a mean of 50.4+/-11.1 mg/dL to 44.4+/-8.5 mg/dL after 3 months of megestrol acetate therapy (p<0.05). Serum total cholesterol level significantly lowered from a mean of 222.8+/-50.0 mg/dL to 192.7+/-36.5 mg/dL (p<0.05) and apolipoprotein A-I level from a median of 134 mg/dL to 116 mg/dL (p<0.05) after the therapy. Serum LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, apolipoprotein B, fasting and 2-h postprandial glucose levels did not significantly change after the therapy (p>0.05). The median weight of patients was found to be 70 (53-110) kg before the therapy and 74 (56-111) kg after the therapy (p=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of megestrol acetate, 160-320 mg/d, in the treatment of endometrial pathology is an effective method without marked harmful effects on serum lipid profiles or glucose levels but is associated with weight gain.
Güven
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
Dikmen
Y
Y
Terek
M C
MC
Ozsaran
A A
AA
Itil
I M
IM
Erhan
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D019290:Megestrol Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy; D015430:Weight Gain
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D019290:Megestrol Acetate