THE EFFECTS OF RU-486 AND LEUPROLIDE ACETATE ON UTERINE ARTERY BLOOD-FLOW IN THE FIBROID UTERUS - A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED STUDY

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to examine the effects of RU 486 and leupro lide acetate on uterine artery blood flow and uterine volume. STUDY DE SIGN: Patients were randomly assigned to group A (eight patients) rece iving 25 mg of RU 486 daily for 3 months or group B (six patients) rec eiving 3.75 mg of leuprolide acetate monthly for 3 months. Uterine art ery blood flow change was determined by resistive index by means of va ginal color Doppler ultrasonography. Uterine volume was measured befor e and during the study with abdominal ultrasonography. RESULTS: Both g roups showed an increase in resistive index. Patients receiving RU 486 had;uterine artery blood flow decreased by 40%, and those receiving l euprolide acetate had a 21% decrease. We noted a significant decrease in uterine volume compared with pretreatment in both groups at 3 month s. There was no significant decrease between groups. CONCLUSION: Both RU 486 (25 mg daily) and leuprolide acetate (3.75 mg monthly) are effe ctive in decreasing blood flow to the uterus (increasing resistive ind ex) and decreasing uterine volume at 3 months. A significant decrease in uterine artery blood flow may provide a mechanism for the decrease in uterine site and the decrease in uterine blood loss at the time of surgery.