A randomized comparison of danazol and leuprolide acetate suppression of serum-soluble CD23 levels in endometriosis

Objective: To determine the effects of treatment with danazol and leuprolid e acetate depot on serum-soluble CD23 concentrations in women with endometr iosis. Methods: This randomized trial involved 20 women 18-42 years old with regul ar menses and known pelvic endometriosis who were recruited from a universi ty hospital between 1993 and 1998. Ten women took 200 mg of danazol three t imes daily for 6 months, and the remaining ten were given 3.75 mg of leupro lide acetate depot every 28 days for 6 months. Blood-soluble CD23 levels we re measured before treatment, during the last 15 days of the 6-month treatm ent course, and 3 months after treatment. Only one blood sample was taken f rom ten women without endometriosis, between the 5th and 7th days of their menstrual cycles. For statistical analysis, we used independent and paired t tests with the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Soluble CD23 levels were significantly higher in women with endome triosis before treatment than in ten normal controls. Levels decreased sign ificantly during treatment with either danazol or leuprolide acetate. Three months after treatment, soluble CD23 values remained lower than before tre atment. There was no correlation between soluble CD23 concentrations and se verity of endometriosis. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that endometriosis increases soluble CD23 levels, which can be suppressed with either danazol or leuprolide acetate i njection. (Obstet Gynecol 2000;95:810-3. (C) 2000 by The American College o f Obstetricians and Gynecologists).