Danazol therapy in gynaecomastia; recent experience and indications for therapy

A group of 42 patients with gynaecomastia were treated with danazol. There were 31 adults and 11 cases of pubertal gynaecomastia. Dosage schedules in adults were 300-600 mg a day and in adolescents 200-300 mg a day. In the 31 adults, marked regression of gymaecomastia occurred in 18 and a moderate regression in 10, whilst in the 11 cases of puberty gynaecomastia, there was a marked regression in 7 and a moderate regression in 3. Plasma testosterone concentration fell in most patients. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) excretion in the urine seemed to fall to a greater extent than did the reduction in luteinizing hormone (LH). Yet the plasma concentration of both FSH and LH fell during treatment with danazol, whilst the pituitary responsiveness to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LRH) was blunted. Tests of other pituitary functions showed them to be unaffected.