LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP ON THE TREATMENT OF ENDOMETRIOSIS WITH THE GNRH-AGONIST BUSERELINACETATE - LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP DATA (UP TO 98 MONTHS) OF 42 PATIENTS WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS WHO WERE TREATED WITH GNRH-AGONIST BUSERELINACETATE (SUPRECUR(R)), WERE EVALUATED IN RESPECT OF RECURRENCE OF PAIN SYMPTOMS AND PREGNANCY OUTCOME

Objective: In our previous study, 119 patients with histologically con firmed endometriosis underwent a 'three-step' therapy between 1987 and 1989, where surgical removal of endometriosis was followed by a 6 mon th treatment with 3x300 mu g buserelinacetate daily intranasally and a second look laparoscopy or laparotomy with removal of residuals. Long -term follow-up data in respect of recurrence of symptoms and pregnanc y outcome were investigated. Study design: Long-term follow-up data of 42 out of 119 treated patients on the post-treatment effect were obta ined using a special questionnaire. Recurrence of dysmenorrhea, dyspar eunia and pelvic pain was defined as recurrence of disease. The follow -up period was up to 98 months with a median time of 82.5 months. Resu lts. Out of the 42 patients, 23 complained of infertility. Fourteen ou t of these 23 patients became pregnant during the follow-up period, re sulting in 23 pregnancies with 18 newborns, 4 miscarriages and one ect opic pregnancy. Ten patients conceived spontaneously, stimulation prog ram became necessary in the rest of patients. Twenty-eight of the 42 p atients complained recurrence of sypmtoms with median first onset at 1 0.7 months. Improvement on quality of life and subjective conditions w ere reported by 30 patients. Conclusions: Our study suggests that the 'three-step' therapy of endometriosis with GnRH-agonist buserelinaceta te leads to a significant improvement on the quality of life and well being in the majority of the patients and to a high pregnancy rate. Th is treatment represents a favourable approach in the management of end ometriosis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.