Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist and uterine leiomyoma: a pilot study

Ten women with 12 uterine leiomyomas ranging from 7.5 to 420 cc (mean, 112.6 +/- 39.4) were treated with subcutaneous injections of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist buserelin, 200 micrograms three times daily for 1 week and then 500 micrograms daily for the rest of the 6-month treatment period. Following initial stimulation the pituitary ovarian axis was suppressed after 3 weeks of treatment with mean serum estradiol ranging between 17 and 36 pg/ml. Seven uterine leiomyomas had a marked regression in size following treatment with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist; two were undetectable and the volume of the other five diminished by an average of 80%. One tumor did not respond to treatment, two regressed by 25%, and two, following an initial reduction of 65% and 50%, reenlarged during the last 2 months of treatment to 75% and 100% respectively of their initial volume. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist is the first medication demonstrated effective in reducing the size of uterine myomas.