Variable effects of RU 486 on endometrial maintenance in the luteal phase extended by exogenous hCG

This study was designed to assess the features and conditions for endometrial bleeding induction with the synthetic antiprogestin and antiglucocorticoid RU 486 during hCG-induced prolongation of the luteal phase. Eighteen healthy, surgically sterilized women and another five women with an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) participated. All subjects received hCG which was injected daily in increasing doses (500 to 15,000 IU) from day 9 to day 15 of the luteal phase. Ten subjects received hCG alone, and groups of three to 16 subjects received hCG combined with RU 486 (25, 50, 100, 200 or 400 mg/day). RU 486 administration was commenced on day 12 following the LH surge and given either for 1, 4 or 7 consecutive days. In certain cycles, tamoxifen (20 mg/day) was given for 4 consecutive days with hCG, or with hCG and RU 486. All treatment cycles were separated by one or two resting cycles. Frequent blood samples were taken to monitor the endocrine response. Treatment with hCG alone or with the various combinations of RU 486 produced similar serum levels of oestradiol and progesterone which were equivalent to those observed during early pregnancy. With hCG alone, the onset of bleeding was on day 21-24 after the LH surge, coinciding with the drop in oestradiol and progesterone. With RU 486 doses of 50 mg/day or more, an early bleeding episode almost invariably occurred on day 14-17 after the LH surge in the presence of high circulating steroid levels. In contrast, 25 mg/day RU 486 for 4 days failed to induce this early onset of bleeding in three out of six cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)