title: Uterine artery embolization of large fibroids: comparative study of procedure with and without pretreatment gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of pretreatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists before uterine artery embolization (UAE) of large fibroids.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cases of 40 patients with large fibroids (≥ 10 cm) were retrospectively analyzed. Among the 40 patients, 28 (control group) underwent UAE without pretreatment with GnRH agonists, and 12 (GnRH group) received GnRH agonists 1-5 times before UAE. MRI was used to assess necrosis of large fibroids and their volumes in both groups within 3 months after UAE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete necrosis of large fibroids after UAE was achieved in 39 of 40 patients (97.5%). Only one patient, who was in the control group, had incomplete necrosis of the predominant fibroid. When GnRH agonists were administered before UAE, the mean volume reduction rate of fibroids was 36.3%. The final mean volume reduction rates of the predominant fibroids and the uterus after UAE in the GnRH group were 56.5% (range, 38-79%) and 50.8% (range, 35-72%), significantly higher than the volume reduction rates of 35.1% (range, 7-65%) and 34.9% (range, 16-54%) in the control group (p < 0.001). Grade D complications were not seen in the GnRH group but occurred in four patients in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pretreatment with GnRH agonists before UAE of large fibroids was safe for patients with large fibroids and did not prevent performance of UAE.
authors: Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 120-752. mdkim@yuhs.ac
authors: Man Deuk
authors: MD
authors: Kim
authors: Myungsu
authors: M
authors: Lee
authors: Mu Sook
authors: MS
authors: Lee
authors: Sung Il
authors: SI
authors: Park
authors: Jong Yun
authors: JY
authors: Wonq
authors: Do Yun
authors: DY
authors: Lee
authors: Kwang Hun
authors: KH
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists*; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000628:therapy*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055357:Uterine Artery Embolization / Q000379:methods*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone