EFFECT OF NAFARELIN ON UTERINE FIBROIDS MEASURED BY ULTRASOUND AND MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

Administration of the LHRH agonist, Nafarelin (d-(Nal2)6 GnRH), at a dosage of 200 μg twice daily intranasally in 13 patients with uterine leiomyomata resulted in a reduction in uterine volume to a mean of 55.1% at 3 months and 44.5% at 6 months as measured using ultrasound. Re-enlargement occurred on discontinuing therapy and the uterus was back to the original volume at three months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed in five patients showed advantages over ultrasound in identification of fibroid number in two patients. Mean reduction in uterine area measured using MRI was 61.3%, and mean reduction of fibroid area 57%. Oestradiol was suppressed with treatment to a mean of 69 pmol/1. © 1990.