The influence of danazol on pituitary function and on the ovarian follicular hormone secretion in premenopausal women

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to study the influence of danazol on the basal levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), on their response to gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH), as well as the effect of different doses on the serum levels of prolactin, estradiol and progesterone.Three groups of regularly menstruating women were treated with danazol, 600, 400 and 200 mg a day, respectively. Serum samples were obtained—and in the 600 mg group a GnRH‐test was performed—before, and after one, 3 and 6 months of continuous medication. LH, FSH, prolactin, estradiol and progesterone were measured by radio‐immu‐noassay.Compared with pretreatment levels in the early follicular phase, basal serum levels of gonadotropins were unchanged during treatment with danazol 600 mg. However, compared with pretreatment levels later on in the menstrual cycle, a slight but significant decrease in LH and increase in FSH were observed. The pituitary responsiveness to GnRH was significantly higher during danazol treatment, than found during the early follicular phase. Serum prolactin levels decreased significantly during treatment with 600 and 400 mg a day, but not with 200 mg a day. The mean estradiol levels on danazol 600 mg a day varied between 15359 (SE) and 161±17 pmol/l, corresponding to the levels in the early follicular phase (100–250 pmol/l). In the lower dose groups, the mean estradiol levels were significantly higher, varying between 265±30 and 321±57 pmol/l in the 400 mg group, and between 279±39 and 405±125 pmol/l in the 200 mg group. There were no significant differences within each dose group between the mean concentrations following one, 3 and 6 months of medication. The serum concentrations of progesterone with danazol 600 mg a day were invariably low (< 5 nmol/l), but with the lower dosages some of the samples showed increased progesterone levels.Danazol does not appear to exert an overall suppressive effect on production and release of gonadotropins, but follicular development appears to be inhibited consistently with danazol 600 mg a day. With the lower dosages, follicular maturation and ovulation may occur occasionally. The slight decrease in serum prolactin levels with 600 and 400 mg a day may be due to the decreased estradiol levels or to a direct effect on the pituitary.

This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit: