title: Effect of different doses of progestin on uterine leiomyomas in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of two doses of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on uterine leiomyoma sizes and on uterine bleeding pattern in postmenopausal women treated with oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty natural postmenopausal women affected by uterine leiomyomas were enrolled and treated with oral micronized estradiol (E(2)) at dose of 2 mg per day, and randomized to receive in association MPA at dose of 2.5 mg daily (group A) or of 5 mg daily (group B). At the beginning of the study and after 1 year of treatment, uterine leiomyomata dimensions were measured using transvaginal ultrasonography (TV-USG). The subjects were instructed to note on a daily dairy the number and severity of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) episodes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 1 year of therapy, a significant changes in mean uterine leiomyomas size was observed in the group treated with higher dose of MPA. No significant differences in uterine bleeding were detected between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In postmenopausal women with uterine leiomyomas, it is necessary to use the minimal efficacious dose of progestin during HRT because of a higher risk to increase the tumors dimensions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. stefanopalomba@tin.it
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palomba
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sena
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Noia
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zullo
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mastrantonio
mesh_terms: D000568:Amenorrhea; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017698:Postmenopause; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate