Long term effects of Tibolone on postmenopausal women with uterine myomas

• Published in: Maturitas Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 95 - 99
• Main Authors: Gregoriou, Odysseas, Konidaris, Sokratis, Botsis, Demetrios, Papadias, Constantinos, Makrakis, Evangelos, Creatsas, George
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 31.10.2001; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Doppler; Female; Hormones. Endocrine system; Humans; Leiomyoma - diagnostic imaging; Leiomyoma - drug therapy; Medical sciences; Menopause; Middle Aged; Norpregnenes - pharmacology; Norpregnenes - therapeutic use; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Postmenopause - drug effects; Pulsatile Flow - drug effects; Tibolone; Time; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography; Ultrasound; Uterine myomas; Uterine Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Uterine Neoplasms - drug therapy; Uterus - blood supply; Uterus - diagnostic imaging; Uterine myomas; Ultrasound; Tibolone; Menopause; Doppler; Human; Leiomyoma; Smooth muscle; Uterine artery; Long term; Female genital diseases; Blood flow; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Volume; Postmenopause; Uterine diseases; Female; Benign neoplasm; Hemodynamics
• ISSN: 0378-5122; 1873-4111
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-5122(01)00234-1

Objectives: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the long term effects of Tibolone (Livial) on uterine myomas volume as well as on uterine arteries pulsatility index (PI) in postmenopausal women. Methods: This study included 66 naturally menopausal women. Twenty of them (group A) had no uterine myomas; 23 of them (group B) had a single, asymptomatic, intramural or subserous myoma of a maximum diameter less or equal than 2 cm; 23 of them (group C) had a single, asymptomatic, intramural or subserous myoma of a maximum diameter between 2 and 5 cm. The volume of the myomas as well as the pulsatility index of the uterine arteries was assessed by transvaginal ultrasonography every 6 months after administration of Tibolone (2.5 mg daily). Results: No statistically significant difference on myomas volume was found after a 3-year period of Tibolone administration. The uterine artery basal PI was significantly higher in group A compared to that of groups B and C. After 6 months of Tibolone administration the PI in group A was significantly lower compared to the basal one whereas in groups B and C was significantly higher compared to the basal value. Conclusions: Our results suggest that treating postmenopausal woman with Tibolone on a long-term basis: (a) does not increase the volume of uterine myomas and (b) has an early effect on uterine haemodynamics (decrease of PI in women without myomas and increase of PI in women with myomas).