TREATMENT OF UTERINE FIBROID WITH TRIPTORELIN BEFORE HYSTERECTOMY

Objective To study the effects of pretreatment with triptorelin on ute rine fibroid before abdominal hysterectomy . Methods Fifteen premenopa usal Chinese women with symptomatic uterine fibroids requiring hystere ctomy were recruited in the study. All patients received monthly intra muscular injections of 3.75 mg triptorelin for three months prior to a bdominal hysterectomy . Results There was significant reduction in the serum levels of oestradiol (68.6%), progesterone (95.6%) and luteiniz ing hormone (73.9%) and in uterine (45.0%) and fibroid (68.0%) volumes . The serum level of follicle-stimulating hormone and haemoglobin conc entration were not significantly different. Conclusions Shrinkage of u terine fibroids can be achieved in women who are rendered hypoestrogen ic with monthly injections of triptorelin for three months. This treat ment modality may be of value prior to hysterectomy or myomectomy espe cially when the fibroid is large.