Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Acute goserelin administration inhibits gonadotropin and androgen secretion in post-menopausal women with ovarian hyperandrogenism

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to verify the effect of goserelin, a GnRH agonist, in women with post-menopausal virilization. Six patients with post-menopausal virilization and increase in 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), total (TT) and free testosterone (FT) levels underwent single subcutaneous administration of goserelin, 3.6 mg. Serum 17-OHP, TT, FT, LH, FSH, E2, Δ4 and 3α-androstanediol glucuronide levels were measured before and 4, 8 and 18 days after goserelin administration. Goserelin administration was followed by progressive inhibition of FSH and LH, which fell to premenopausal levels on day 18, and progressive normalization of androgen parameters. The low E2 levels recorded at baseline were further reduced by goserelin administration. Four patients then underwent ovariectomy while in two patients, rejecting surgical treatment, goserelin treatment was protracted up to 6 and 12 months, respectively, with remission of hyperandrogenism. This study shows that in post-menopausal patients with virilization GnRH agonist allows to confirm the diagnosis of gonadotropin-dependent ovarian hyperandrogenism: its administration induces inhibition of gonadotropin levels, normalization of androgen parameters, and remission of virilization when the treatment is protracted in patients waiting for surgery.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Madiedo G., Tieu T.M., Aiman, J. Atypical ovarian hyperthecosis in a virilized postmenopausal woman. Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 1985, 83: 101–107.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Pascale M.M., Pugeat M., Roberts M., et al. Androgen suppressive effect of GnRH agonist in ovarian hyperthecosis and virilizing tumours. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 1994, 41: 571–576.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Chico A., García J.L., Matias-Guiu X., et al. A gonadotropin dependent stromal luteoma: a rare cause of post-menopausal virilization. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 1995, 43: 645–649.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Manieri C., Di Bisceglie C., Fornengo R., et al. Postmenopausal virilization in a woman with gonadotropin dependent ovarian hyperthecosis. J. Endocrinol. Invest. 1998, 21: 128–132.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Taylor H.C., Pillay I., Setrakian S. Diffuse stromal Leydig cell hyperplasia: a unique cause of postmenopausal hyperandrogenism and virilization. Mayo Clin. Proc. 2000, 75: 288–292.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Picón M.J., Lara J.I., Sarasa J.L., et al. Use of a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue in a postmenopausal woman with hyperandrogenism due to a hilus cell tumour. Eur. J. Endocrinol. 2000, 142: 619–622.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Reissmann T., Schally A.V., Bouchard P., Riethmüller H., Engel J. The LHRH antagonist Cetrorelix: a review. Hum. Reprod. Update 2000, 6: 322–331.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. De Voogt H.J., Studer U., Schroder F.H., Klijn J.G., De Pauw M., Sylvester R. Maximum androgen blockade using LHRH agonist buserelin in combination with short-term (two weeks) or long-term (continuous) cyproterone acetate is not superior to standard androgen deprivation in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Final analysis of EORTC GU Group Trial 30843. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Genito-Urinary Tract Cancer Cooperative Group. Eur. Urol. 1998, 33: 152–158.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Ferriman D., Gallwey J.D. Clinical assessment of body hair in women. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 1961, 24: 1440–1447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Barth J.H., Jenkins M., Belchetz P.E. Ovarian hyperthecosis, diabetes and hirsuties in post-menopausal women. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 1997, 46: 123–128.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Comite F. GnRH analogs and safety. Obstet. Gynecol. Surv. 1989, 44: 319–325.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Carr B.R., Breslau N.A., Givens C., Byrd W., Barnett-Hamm C., Marshburn P.B. Oral contraceptive pills, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, or use in combination for treatment of hirsutism: a clinical research center study. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 1995, 80: 1169–1178.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kuhn M., Billebaud T., Navratil H., et al. Prevention of the transient adverse effects of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (buserelin) in metastatic prostatic carcinoma by administration of an antiandrogen (nilutamide). N. Engl. J. Med. 1989, 321: 413–418.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Honoré L.H., Chari R., Mueller H.D., Cumming D.C., Scott J.Z. Postmenopausal hyperandrogenism of ovarian origin. A clinicopathologic study of four cases. Gynecol. Obstet. Invest. 1992, 34: 52–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Agorastos T., Argyriadis N., Fraggidis G., Vakiani A., Zournatzi V., Bontis J. Postmenopausal virilization due to ovarian hyperthecosis. Arch. Gynecol. Obstet. 1995, 256: 209–211.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Lobo R.A. Endocrine therapy of hyperandrogenism. In: Barbieri R.L., Schiff I. (Eds.), Reproductive endocrine therapeutics. Alan R. Liss, New York, 1988, p. 101.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Efstathiadou Z., Tsatsoulis A. Long-term remission of ovarian hyperandrogenism after short-term treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist. Fertil. Steril. 2001, 75: 59–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Cataldo Di Bisceglie, L. Brocato, M. Tagliabue, A. Bertagna, L. Gianotti, E. Ghigo & C. Manieri

Authors
  1. Cataldo Di Bisceglie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Brocato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Tagliabue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Bertagna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. L. Gianotti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. E. Ghigo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. C. Manieri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cataldo Di Bisceglie.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Di Bisceglie, C., Brocato, L., Tagliabue, M. et al. Acute goserelin administration inhibits gonadotropin and androgen secretion in post-menopausal women with ovarian hyperandrogenism. J Endocrinol Invest 26, 206–210 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345158

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345158

Key-words

Search

Navigation