Conservative management for perimenopausal women with uterine leiomyomas using Chinese herbal medicines and synthetic analogs of gonadotropin-releasing hormone

In Vivo. 1998 May-Jun;12(3):333-7.

Abstract

The effects of a long-term intranasal administration of each of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs, buserelin and nafarelin on uterine leiomyomas after conservative treatment using Chinese herbal medicines, Keishi-bukuryo-gan and Shakuyaku-kanzo-to were investigated in 30 perimenopausal women with leiomyomas. Hypermenorrhea and/or dysmenorrhea as a chief complaint was moderately improved by the treatment using Chinese herbal medicines in more than 60% of the patients with less than fist-sized leiomyomas, but not the over fist-sized. Afterwards, continuous treatment using analogs produced a long-term reduction in leiomyomas (less than 60%) along with decreases in the serum levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, and the tumor marker CA-125, and adverse effects including slight boneloss. Long-term treatment using Chinese herbal medicines and gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs for the management of uterine leiomyomas could be beneficial for patients a few years before menopause, though possible side effects of this treatment should be monitored.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Buserelin / adverse effects
  • Buserelin / pharmacology
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Glycyrrhiza
  • Hormones / adverse effects
  • Hormones / blood
  • Hormones / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Leiomyoma / blood
  • Leiomyoma / drug therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Nafarelin / adverse effects
  • Nafarelin / pharmacology
  • Paeonia
  • Patient Care Management
  • Premenopause* / blood
  • Uterine Neoplasms / blood
  • Uterine Neoplasms / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Hormones
  • shakuyaku-kanzoh-toh
  • Nafarelin
  • Buserelin