Cholesterol, High Density Lipoprotein and Danazol

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Abstract
The synthetic steroid, danazol [17α-pregna-2,4-dien-20-yno-(2,3,d)isoxazol-17-ol], is used widely for the treatment of endometriosis. In nine subjects studied over a 6-month course of treatment and for 5 months subsequently, plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels fell during treatment (P < 0.001) and were restored to pretreatment levels within 3–5 months after treatment ceased. In these patients, total cholesterol did not increase significantly, yet the depressed levels of HDL-C apparently masked an increase in the total cholesterol in the remaining lipoprotein classes (P < 0.01). Triglyceride levels were not affected significantly over the course of the treatment. Lipoprotein electrophoresis indicated an elevated β-lipoprotein band in the subjects using danazol. All effects of danazol on plasma levels of cholesterol and HDL-C were reversed within 3–5 months after the cessation of treatment.