Impact of gestrinone on the course of asymptomatic endometriosis. Issue 6567 (31st January 1987)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thomas, E J; Cooke, I D
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 294:Issue 6567(1987)
• Page Start: 272
• Page End: 274
• Publication Date: 1987-01-31
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.294.6567.272
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract : A new drug, gestrinone, was subjected to the first double blind, randomised placebo controlled trial of any treatment of endometriosis. The disease deteriorated in eight (47%) of the 17 patients prescribed placebo (95% confidence limits 23% and 71%) compared with none of the 18 patients prescribed gestrinone (p = 0.002). There was a difference in elimination of the endometriosis in the gestrinone group compared with placebo but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.057). There was a significant difference in improvement of the disease in the gestrinone group compared with placebo (p = 0.004), confirming that gestrinone is an effective treatment of endometriosis. Endometriosis deteriorates in at least 23% of patients; as it is impossible to predict in whom this will happen, treatment appears to be warranted in all cases.