Very low dose XXXX for relief of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain: a pilot study.

@entity1 @entity3086 @entity190 @entity1834 @entity1872 @entity46 @entity158 @entity546 @entity165
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of very low dose @entity1872 in improving pelvic @entity158 in @entity1 with @entity46 , the benefit of preceding the treatment by a short course of a GnRH agonist, symptoms recurrence after drug withdrawal, and variations in menstrual pattern. DESIGN: Open-label, randomized study. SETTING: University hospital @entity46 center. @entity1 : Forty-two @entity1 with moderate or severe pelvic @entity158 and laparoscopically diagnosed @entity46 . INTERVENTIONS: Treatment with oral @entity1872 , 50 mg/d, for 9 months (group I, n = 21) or @entity3086 depot for 3 months followed by oral @entity1872 , 50 mg/d, for 6 months (group II, n = 21), and a 6-month follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Variations in severity of symptoms during treatment and at the end of follow-up as shown by a linear analog scale and a verbal rating scale; menstrual @entity190 as assessed by a pictorial chart. RESULTS: Four @entity1 withdrew from the study, one in each group at the fifth month of treatment (for persistent @entity158 ) and one in each group during follow-up (they requested additional therapy); one @entity1 in group I was lost to follow-up. Significant improvements were obtained in @entity1834 , @entity546 , and @entity158 in both treatment schedules without differences between the groups. Also menstrual @entity190 was significantly reduced in both groups. A temporary fall in high and rise in low density lipoprotein @entity165 was observed in the study population. At the end of follow-up symptoms recurred without significant differences in median @entity158 scores with respect to baseline. CONCLUSION: Very low dose @entity1872 may be an alternative for temporary relief of @entity158 . Ovulation is not always inhibited and barrier contraception is needed. Side effects occur but are rarely severe. Further data are required to evaluate the influence of long-term administration on the lipid profile.
