OVARIAN SUPPRESSION IN POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN DISEASE DURING 6 MONTH ADMINISTRATION OF A LUTEINIZING HORMONE‐RELEASING HORMONE (LH‐RH) AGONIST

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Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate the long-term effect (6 months) of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonist buserelin on pituitary and ovarian function in a group of 14 patients presenting with the polycystic ovarian (PCO) syndrome. Buserelin was given subcutaneously 200 .mu.g three times daily for the first 7 days followed by 500 .mu.g once daily. Blood samples were taken weekly for the first month and then every month for radioimmunoassay of LH, FSH and sex steroids. While LH levels were stimulated during the first 2 weeks and then declined towards baseline, serum FSH levels were reduced after only 1 week (P < 0.05). Serum oestradiol levels were maximally suppressed to the menopausal range after 1 month and testosterone levels were also significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) after 2 weeks of therapy. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) sulphate did not show any significant change while 17-hydroxyprogesterone was suppressed after the first month of buserelin administration (P < 0.01). The apparent divergent response of the gonadotrophins and the reduction of ovarian steroids in spite of a lack of suppression of LH levels can be explained by the marked inhibition of the bioactivity of LH assessed by dispersed mouse Leydig cells assay. The clinical evaluation of hirsutism did not detect any change during the 6 month period. No patient had any menstrual bleeding or spotting after the sixth week of buserelin. The monthly incidence of hot flushes varied between 50 to 66%. This study shows that LH-RH agonist administration can selectively inhibit ovarian function and could be an interesting approach to evaluate the respective contribution of the ovaray and adrenal on the pathophysiology of the polycystic ovarian disease.

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