Interval bone mineral density with long-term gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist suppression

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 52; no. 4; pp. 596 - 599
• Main Authors: Damewood, Marian D., Schlaff, William D., Hesla, John S., Rock, John A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.1989; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Density; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Estradiol - blood; Female; Humans; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous (drug allergy, mutagens, teratogens...); Ovary - drug effects; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pituitary Gland - drug effects; Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones - pharmacology; Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones - physiology; Time Factors; Human; Hypothalamic hormone; Chemotherapy; Withdrawal; Mineralization; Toxicity; Analog; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Gonadotropin RH; Bone; Long term
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/S0015-0282(16)60970-6

Twenty-six patients of mean age 37±4.8 (SD) years, who received a 6-month course of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue, were selected for study. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-photon absorptiometry before initiation and after completion of agonist therapy. Mean BMD (g/cm2) by dual-photon absorptiometry at L2 to L4, femoral neck, Ward’s triangle, and the trochanteric area did not change significantly (P=not significant [NS]) after 6 months of GnRH analogue suppression. Mean percent (%) expected density as standardized for age, weight, and sex remained in the range of 89.3% to 94.2% (P=NS). The interval detectable change in BMD after therapy was 0.05±0.06 g/cm2. These findings are reassuring with respect to the use of long-term GnRH analogue regimens to induce a hypoestrogenic state in the treatment of hormone-dependent conditions.