TY - JOUR
T1 - Norethisterone acetate versus norethisterone acetate combined with letrozole for the treatment of ovarian endometriotic cysts
T2 - A patient preference study
AU - Ferrero, Simone
AU - Remorgida, Valentino
AU - Venturini, Pier Luigi
AU - Leone Roberti Maggiore, Umberto
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Objective To compare the efficacy of norethisterone acetate (NETA; group N) or letrozole combined with NETA (group L) in treating endometriotic ovarian cysts. Study design This patient-preference study included 20 patients in group N and 20 patients in group L. The primary aim of the study was to compare the volume of the endometriomas during and after treatment. The secondary outcome was the evaluation of the changes in pain symptoms during and after treatment. Results After six months of treatment, the volume of the endometriomas significantly decreased compared with baseline in both study groups; it was smaller in group L than in group N (p = 0.026). The rate of satisfied patients at six months of treatment was similar between the study groups (p = 0.451). No significant difference was reported between the two study groups in the amelioration of pain symptoms and in the incidence of adverse events. Conclusions Letrozole combined with NETA is more efficacious than NETA alone in reducing the volume of endometriotic cysts but in none of the 40 patients included in the study did the endometriomas disappear. The efficacy of aromatase inhibitors, however, should be balanced with the need to administer long-term treatment.
AB - Objective To compare the efficacy of norethisterone acetate (NETA; group N) or letrozole combined with NETA (group L) in treating endometriotic ovarian cysts. Study design This patient-preference study included 20 patients in group N and 20 patients in group L. The primary aim of the study was to compare the volume of the endometriomas during and after treatment. The secondary outcome was the evaluation of the changes in pain symptoms during and after treatment. Results After six months of treatment, the volume of the endometriomas significantly decreased compared with baseline in both study groups; it was smaller in group L than in group N (p = 0.026). The rate of satisfied patients at six months of treatment was similar between the study groups (p = 0.451). No significant difference was reported between the two study groups in the amelioration of pain symptoms and in the incidence of adverse events. Conclusions Letrozole combined with NETA is more efficacious than NETA alone in reducing the volume of endometriotic cysts but in none of the 40 patients included in the study did the endometriomas disappear. The efficacy of aromatase inhibitors, however, should be balanced with the need to administer long-term treatment.
KW - Endometriotic ovarian cysts
KW - Letrozole
KW - Norethisterone
KW - Patient satisfaction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84894229508&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2013.11.030
DO - 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2013.11.030
M3 - Article
SN - 0301-2115
VL - 174
SP - 117
EP - 122
JO - European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
JF - European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
IS - 1
ER -