TY - JOUR
T1 - Anastrazole and oral contraceptives
T2 - A novel treatment for endometriosis
AU - Amsterdam, Lisa L.
AU - Gentry, William
AU - Jobanputra, Smeta
AU - Wolf, Michael
AU - Rubin, Stephen D.
AU - Bulun, Serdar E.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by a grant from AstraZeneca, makers of anastrazole (Arimidex). Wyeth provided samples of 20 μg ethinyl estradiol/0.1 mg levonorgestrel (Alesse) for this study. Dr. Bulun’s efforts were funded in part by National Institutes of Health grant no. HD38691 and an endowment from Friends of Prentice.
PY - 2005/8
Y1 - 2005/8
N2 - Objective: To establish the use of aromatase inhibitors as a therapeutic option for endometriosis. Design: Prospective open-label Food and Drug Administration phase 2 trial with Institutional Review Board approval. Setting: Outpatient tertiary care centers. Patient(s): Fifteen premenopausal patients with documented refractory endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. Intervention(s): After a 1-month washout of endometriosis hormone therapies, women took 1 mg anastrazole (Arimidex; AstraZeneca, Wilmington, DE) and one tablet of 20 μg ethinyl estradiol/0.1 mg levonorgestrel (Alesse; Wyeth, Madison, NJ) daily for 6 months. Main Outcome Measure(s): An analog pain scale recorded pelvic pain in daily diaries and surveys at baseline and after each treatment month. Side effects, blood counts, liver and renal function tests, cholesterol levels, and bone density were monitored. Result(s): Fourteen of 15 patients achieved significant pain reduction. Median pain scores decreased 55% after 6 months, while mean pain scores decreased 40%. Pain reduction comparing each treatment month to baseline achieved statistical significance. Average pain scores began dropping after only 1 treatment month and continued decreasing each additional month. No organ system experienced adverse effects. Estradiol levels were suppressed during treatment. Side effects were mild and improved over time. Conclusion(s): Fourteen of 15 patients with refractory endometriosis achieved significant pain relief using anastrazole and 20 μg ethinyl estradiol/0.1 mg levonorgestrel with minimal side effects. This treatment for endometriosis is a promising new modality that warrants further investigation.
AB - Objective: To establish the use of aromatase inhibitors as a therapeutic option for endometriosis. Design: Prospective open-label Food and Drug Administration phase 2 trial with Institutional Review Board approval. Setting: Outpatient tertiary care centers. Patient(s): Fifteen premenopausal patients with documented refractory endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. Intervention(s): After a 1-month washout of endometriosis hormone therapies, women took 1 mg anastrazole (Arimidex; AstraZeneca, Wilmington, DE) and one tablet of 20 μg ethinyl estradiol/0.1 mg levonorgestrel (Alesse; Wyeth, Madison, NJ) daily for 6 months. Main Outcome Measure(s): An analog pain scale recorded pelvic pain in daily diaries and surveys at baseline and after each treatment month. Side effects, blood counts, liver and renal function tests, cholesterol levels, and bone density were monitored. Result(s): Fourteen of 15 patients achieved significant pain reduction. Median pain scores decreased 55% after 6 months, while mean pain scores decreased 40%. Pain reduction comparing each treatment month to baseline achieved statistical significance. Average pain scores began dropping after only 1 treatment month and continued decreasing each additional month. No organ system experienced adverse effects. Estradiol levels were suppressed during treatment. Side effects were mild and improved over time. Conclusion(s): Fourteen of 15 patients with refractory endometriosis achieved significant pain relief using anastrazole and 20 μg ethinyl estradiol/0.1 mg levonorgestrel with minimal side effects. This treatment for endometriosis is a promising new modality that warrants further investigation.
KW - Anastrazole (Arimidex)
KW - Aromatase inhibitors
KW - Endometriosis
KW - Pelvic pain
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U2 - 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.02.018
DO - 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.02.018
M3 - Article
C2 - 16084868
AN - SCOPUS:23744508024
SN - 0015-0282
VL - 84
SP - 300
EP - 304
JO - Fertility and Sterility
JF - Fertility and Sterility
IS - 2
ER -