Vaginal bromocriptine for treatment of adenomyosis: Impact on magnetic resonance imaging and transvaginal ultrasound

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology Vol. 254; pp. 38 - 43
• Main Authors: Andersson, Johanna K, Pozzi Mucelli, Raffaella, Epstein, Elisabeth, Stewart, Elizabeth A, Gemzell-Danielsson, Kristina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.11.2020
• Subjects: Adenomyosis; Adenomyosis - diagnostic imaging; Adenomyosis - drug therapy; Adult; Bromocriptine; Bromocriptine - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Menstrual bleeding; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Prolactin; Radiological imaging; Ultrasonography; Radiological imaging; Menstrual bleeding; Bromocriptine; Prolactin; Adenomyosis
• ISSN: 0301-2115; 1872-7654; 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.08.040

Vaginal bromocriptine significantly reduces heavy menstrual bleeding and pain in women with diffuse adenomyosis. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate whether imaging findings of adenomyosis, as assessed by transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflect changes induced by the bromocriptine treatment. Eighteen women, aged 35–50, with heavy menstrual bleeding reporting Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBLAC) scores >100 and diffuse adenomyosis according to both MRI and TVU were included. The subjects underwent treatment with vaginal bromocriptine for 6 months. MRI and TVU were performed at baseline and after 6 months of medication. Mean age of the participants was 44.8 years, 77.8 % reported PBLAC scores > 250 and 66.7 % reported moderate to severe pain during menstruation at baseline. As compared to baseline, TVU revealed a thinner maximal Junctional Zone (JZmax) (8.5 mm [5.2−14] vs 7.9 mm [5−11.2], p = 0.02) at 6 months. Asymmetric wall thickening was seen in 13 (72 %) at baseline, and in 6 (33 %) women at 6 months, p = 0.02. No significant changes were seen in irregular endometrial-myometrial border, presence of fan-shaped shadowing, cystic changes, striations, hyperechogenic islands or lesion extension. MRI showed no significant difference in JZmax (16.0 mm[12.1−27.7] vs 15.5 mm [9.5–25.8], p = 0.81), JZdifference (9.5 mm[4.8−21.6] vs 8.4[3.8−19.5], p = 1) or Ratio JZ/myometrium (0.6 [0.5−0.8] vs. 0.6[0.4−0.8], p = 0.9) at baseline vs 6 month. Cystic lesions in the JZ were found in 9 women (50 %) before, and in 5 women (28 %) at 6 months, p = 0.13. TVU showed a significant decrease in JZ max and a reduced number of women with asymmetric myometrial wall thickness. The changes seen in this small pilot study may indicate that vaginal bromocriptine have an impact on adenomyosis that is reflected in radiological appearance.