Pituitary desensitization for eight weeks after the administration of two distinct gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to evaluate the duration of pituitary desensitization after the administration of 3.5 mg of triptorelin (T) and leuprolin (L) depot preparations in patients with endometriosis.


METHODS
Two groups of 30 patients received, on 21st day of the cycle, 3.75 mg i.m. of triptorelin (T group), and of leuprolin acetate (L group). From the first to the eighth week following gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH-a) administration both groups underwent pelvic ultrasound and serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2) evaluation. Statistical analysis was performed using the ANOVA test and the median test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
Pituitary suppression was achieved from two to six and from two to seven weeks after the administration of 3.75 mg of leuprolin and triptorelin, respectively. FSH and LH serum levels were significantly higher in the L group than in the T group after the fourth week.


CONCLUSIONS
Leuprolin and triptorelin depots (3.75 mg) promote satisfactory ovarian suppression lasting for six and seven weeks, respectively, after administration, with significantly different ambient levels of endogenous LH.
Matteo
Maria
M
Operative Unit of Obstetric and Gynecology, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. m.matteo@unifg.it
Caroppo
Ettore
E
Gliozheni
Orion
O
Carone
Domenico
D
Schonauer
Luca Maria
LM
Vizziello
Giovanni
G
Greco
Pantaleo
P
D'Amato
Giuseppe
G
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D034445:Ovulation Inhibition / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000494:pharmacology
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D016729:Leuprolide