Long-term treatment of leiomyomas with gestrinone

A prospective randomized study was conducted in 100 women with leiomyomas in order to evaluate the effect of gestrinone, a synthetic derivative of ethynil-nor-testosterone. Patients in group A received capsules containing 2.5 mg of gestrinone three times weekly orally. Those in group B received capsules containing 5.0 mg twice weekly, also orally. In group C, patients used by vaginal route tablets containing 5 mg of gestrinone three times weekly. Reduction in uterine volume occurred in all three groups of patients. Of patients who discontinued treatment at 6 months, uterine volume remained lower than pretreatment values in 89%, 18 months after discontinuation. Of those patients who discontinued at 1 year, uterine volume remained below pretreatment levels in 76% 1 year after discontinuation. In patients treated continuously for 24 months, mean uterine volume decreased from a mean 339 cm3 to 273 cm3, a statistically significant difference. The vaginal route showed statistically more significant volume decreases than the oral route for all treatment intervals.