title: Raloxifene administration in premenopausal women with uterine leiomyomas: a pilot study.
abstract: This prospective randomized single-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of raloxifene administration on uterine and leiomyoma sizes in premenopausal women. Ninety healthy premenopausal women affected by asymptomatic uterine leiomyomas were enrolled and treated with raloxifene at the doses of 60 mg/d (group A), 180 mg/d (group B), or placebo (group C). The duration of the treatment was 6 cycles of 28 d each. At entry and after three and six cycles, uterine and leiomyoma sizes were measured by transvaginal ultrasonography. The difference between uterine and leiomyoma volumes (Delta size) was calculated in all subjects. The characteristics of the menstrual cycles and the side effects of the treatments were recorded using a daily diary. The severity of the uterine bleedings was assessed using a rank scale. Throughout the study, no significant changes were observed in uterine and leiomyoma size or in Delta size among the three groups and within each group of treatment. The length and severity of uterine bleedings was not significantly different between the three groups and within each group. In conclusion, raloxifene has no significant effect on uterine and leiomyoma size or on menstrual cycle in premenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy. stefanopalomba@tin.it
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palomba
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orio
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pellicano
authors.forename: Errico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zupi
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nappi
authors.forename: Pier Luigi Benedetti
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Panici
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zullo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017697:Premenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride