title: Raloxifene Administration in Women Treated with Long Term Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Agonist for Severe Endometriosis: Effects on Bone Mineral Density.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of raloxifene in preventing bone loss associated with long term gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two premenopausal women with severe endometriosis were treated with leuprolide acetate depot at a dosage of 3.75 mg/4 weeks, for 48 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) was evaluated at admission, and after 12 treatment cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At cycle 12 of GnRH-a plus raloxifene treatment, lumbar spine, trochanter femoral neck, and Ward's BMD differed from before the treatment. A year after treatment, the lumbar spine and trochanter decreased slightly, but were not significantly different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that the administration of GnRH-a plus raloxifene in pre-menopausal women with severe endometriosis, is an effective long-term treatment to prevent bone loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheomdan Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Hwa
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Um
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Suk Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chosun University School of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chosun University School of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyuk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jung
keywords: Bone mineral density; Endometriosis; Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist; Raloxifene hydrochloride