Effects of recombinant LH treatment on folliculogenesis and responsiveness to FSH stimulation

BACKGROUND

The role of LH in sensitizing antral follicles to FSH is unclear. LH is required for normal hormone production and normal oocyte and embryo development, but follicular responses to LH may depend upon the stage of development. Potential roles at the early follicular phase were explored in a clinical setting by employing a sequential approach to stimulation by recombinant human (r-h) LH followed by r-hFSH in women who were profoundly down-regulated by depo GnRH agonist.

METHODS

We employed a multi-centre, prospective, randomized approach. Women (n = 146) were treated in a long course high-dose GnRH agonist (Decapeptyl, 4.2 mg s.c.) protocol and were randomized to receive r-hLH (Luveris, 300 IU/day) for a fixed 7 days, or no r-hLH treatment. This was followed by a standard r-hFSH stimulation regime (Gonal-F, 150 IU/day). Ultrasound and hormone assessments of responses were measured at the start of r-hLH treatment, on FSH stimulation Days 0 and 8 and at the time of HCG administration.

RESULTS

The LH treatment was associated with increased small antral follicles prior to FSH stimulation (P = 0.007), and an increased yield of normally fertilized (2 PN) embryos (P = 0.03). There was no influence of the r-hLH pretreatment upon hormone profiles or ultrasound assessments during the FSH phase. Anti-mullerian hormone increased in both groups during the week prior to FSH stimulation (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

This sequential approach to the use of r-hLH in standard IVF showed a possible modest clinical benefit. The results support other recent work exploring up-regulated androgen drive upon follicular metabolism indicating that clinical benefit may be obtainable after further practical explorations of the concept.

Ovarian suppression with the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist goserelin (Zoladex) in management of the premenstrual tension syndrome

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of ovarian suppression by a GnRH agonist analogue in 32 women with prospectively confirmed severe premenstrual tension. The design was a randomized, double-blind study comparing goserelin 3.6 mg with placebo, both given as a monthly s.c. injection for 3 months. Self-assessment was by daily visual analogue scales (VAS) for anxiety and depression, daily quantitative symptom rating for breast discomfort, swelling, irritability, tension, depression and by monthly Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scales. Of the 16 women in each group, 15 completed active and 12 completed placebo therapy. Median symptom scores for whole cycles showed a significant reduction of breast discomfort and swelling during active treatment, with no significant improvement in psychological symptoms. Analysis by cycle phase showed that for individual subjects, pre-treatment differences in VAS scores for anxiety and depression were abolished in a significantly greater proportion of actively treated cycles. Within-group comparisons showed a marked placebo effect and, comparing the two groups, differences reached significance only during treatment cycle 1 and the first post-treatment cycle for anxiety with no significant differences for depression. It was concluded that while suppression of ovarian activity with a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue dampens down cyclical mood swings, it has a more marked effect on the physical components of the premenstrual syndrome. Results reconfirm the positive role of placebo in the management of this condition.

Treatment with the gonadotrophin releasing hormone-agonist goserelin before hysterectomy for uterine fibroids

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of the gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH)-agonist goserelin, given by monthly subcutaneous injection for three months prior to total abdominal hysterectomy for uterine leiomyomata, on the pre-operative symptoms, difficulty of operation and operative blood loss.

DESIGN

Randomised placebo-controlled study.

SETTING

Patients were recruited from the gynaecological outpatient departments from hospitals in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle.

SUBJECTS

Seventy-one premenopausal women with uterine leiomyomata who were on the waiting list for hysterectomy.

INTERVENTIONS

After the presence of leiomyomata was confirmed using ultrasonography, the women were randomised to receive either the GnRH-agonist goserelin by monthly subcutaneous injection or a sham injection for three months prior to operation. At the monthly visits, patients were asked about treatment related symptoms, fibroid related symptoms, and their bleeding patterns. Blood was taken for haematological assessment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Haemoglobin concentrations at recruitment, at operation and post-operatively, pre-operative symptoms, operative difficulty and blood loss and post-operative complications.

RESULTS

Treatment with goserelin induced amenorrhoea in over 80% of the women, and this was associated with a significant rise in haemoglobin level. At the time of operation, fibroid related symptoms were less in the goserelin group than in the placebo group. The hysterectomy was technically easier and the median (range) operative blood loss was significantly lower in the goserelin group compared with the placebo group (187 (60-600) ml vs 308 (118-1000) ml respectively; P < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed rank test). There was no difference between the two groups in the duration of hospital stay or the frequency of post-operative complications. The fibroids were smaller at the time of operation in the goserelin group, and more women treated with goserelin were able to have their operations through a transverse incision.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the benefits of goserelin in women having total abdominal hysterectomy for uterine leiomyomata.

Inhibition of ovulation by low-dose mifepristone (RU 486)

Mifepristone (RU 486) is a potent antigestagen and antiglucocorticoid which when given at a dose of 25-600 mg disrupts folliculogenesis, inhibits ovulation and induces menses in healthy women. This study reports the effects of much lower doses of mifepristone than used previously, given for the duration of a complete menstrual cycle. Healthy female volunteers (n = 11) with regular menstrual cycles were given mifepristone at a daily dose of 5 mg (n = 6) or 2 mg (n = 5) for 30 days, beginning immediately after an ovulatory placebo cycle. Mifepristone prevented menstruation for the duration of the treatment period, with recurrence of menses 15-29 days after replacement of mifepristone with placebo. Daily mifepristone given in either 5 mg or 2 mg doses inhibited ovulation, as indicated by the lack of a rise in urinary pregnanediol excretion. The excretion of oestrone glucuronide in urine rose during treatment, suggesting ovarian follicular development. Inhibition of ovulation appeared to result from a failure of the positive feedback effect of oestradiol on the hypothalamo-pituitary axis, as no surges of luteinizing hormone were seen despite pre-ovulatory levels of oestrone glucuronide being measured during exposure to mifepristone. The cycle immediately following treatment was shorter than the pre-treatment cycle, with lower peak levels of pregnanediol glucuronide, suggesting an inadequate luteal phase. Recovery from the effects of mifepristone treatment was more rapid after 2 mg than after 5 mg and one subject conceived in the immediate post-treatment phase, indicating adequate ovulation and luteinization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Potential role for medroxyprogesterone acetate as an adjunct to goserelin (Zoladex) in the medical management of uterine fibroids

Twenty women with symptomatic uterine fibroids were treated with the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist goserelin (Zoladex) combined with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) in an open pilot study comparing two protocols. Ten women received goserelin 3.6 mg monthly combined with oral MPA 15 mg daily for 6 months. The mean uterine volume (497 cm3) measured by ultrasound fell by only 18% after 3 months, with no further reduction at 6 months. The other 10 women received goserelin alone for the initial 3 months, followed by combined treatment for 3 months. The mean uterine volume (557 cm3) fell by 39% after 3 months with no significant regrowth by 6 months. At 6 months post-treatment, uterine volume had not returned to pretreatment size. MPA significantly reduced the frequency of vasomotor side-effects. There were no differences in plasma oestradiol, luteinizing hormone or follicle stimulating hormone concentrations between the protocols and good symptomatic relief was experienced by both groups. Two years after completion, three women in each group have requested surgical treatment. The results indicate that MPA may be a useful adjunct to LHRH analogues in women with fibroids, reducing side-effects and possibly prolonging the response, although positive effects on bone density have yet to be confirmed. The optimum regimen of administration remains to be clarified as the clinical results were the same with both protocols.

Effect of cyclofenil on hormonal dynamics, follicular development and cervical mucus in normal and oligomenorrhoeic women

Cyclofenil is a triphenylethylene derivative, similar in structure to clomiphene citrate, which is used to induce ovulation in anovulatory women. The effects of cyclofenil on a group of 10 normal cyclic and 10 oligomenorrhoeic subjects were examined in a double blind controlled cross-over study. Both groups of women were administered either cyclofenil or, following a washout cycle, a placebo in two treatment cycles. Urinary oestrone and pregnanediol excretion were measured daily and ultrasound scans performed to assess follicular development. Frequent sampling of blood was performed on day 6 to study luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) pulsatile release. Cervical mucus changes and sperm-cervical mucus interaction were studied after identification of the LH peak. There were no significant differences between cyclofenil and placebo cycles in the following: ovulation rates, daily urinary oestrone and pregnanediol excretion, the number or size of developing follicles, LH pulsatility (parameters studied: number of peaks, pulse interval, pulse amplitude, pulse area and mean nadir LH), mean FSH level on day 6, cervical mucus and sperm-cervical mucus interaction. In view of our inability to demonstrate an effect on any parameter of endocrine function in normal and oligomenorrhoeic women, these results throw doubt on the therapeutic value of cyclofenil in its present dosage and formulation.

Estrogenic action of tamoxifen in women treated with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists (goserelin)--lack of shrinkage of uterine fibroids

Six premenopausal women with uterine fibroids were treated with a combination of tamoxifen, 20 mg/d, and goserelin, 3.6 mg every 28 days, for a total of 24 weeks. Results were compared with those from six women, matched for pretreatment uterine volume, who had been treated with goserelin alone. During combined therapy, plasma and urinary estrogen concentrations were significantly lower than during goserelin alone, whereas sex hormone binding globulin concentrations were significantly higher. Plasma luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations were both suppressed, in contrast with results during goserelin alone when FSH levels remained within the pretreatment range. None of the women on combined therapy bled in response to the endocrine changes of the initial treatment cycle. Despite this profound pituitary-ovarian suppression, there was no significant change in uterine volume during combined therapy. These results suggest that tamoxifen is acting as an estrogen agonist in women rendered hypoestrogenic with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists.