Medroxyprogesterone acetate with Zoladex for long-term treatment of fibroids: effects on bone density and patient acceptability

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Goserelin, published as a randomized controlled trial.

A randomized trial was carried out to investigate the effect of 12 months administration of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) Zoladex in combination with either placebo or medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) from the third month.

Why It Was Studied

Bone density, markers of bone resorption, symptoms and uterine volume were monitored in 24 women with symptomatic fibroids or menstrual problems.

Who Took Part

The study group was 24 women.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were adults and middle-aged adults, women only.

A total of 21 women were recruited to act as controls for the assessment of bone parameters.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized and placebo-controlled.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Goserelin and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Some women received a placebo instead of Goserelin, giving a reference point.

The bone markers osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase were assessed in plasma, and the cross-links pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline measured in urine.

What Was Measured

The subject headings attached to it are Amino Acids, Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate, Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Biomarkers, Bone Density and Goserelin.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized and placebo-controlled study of Goserelin in 24 women.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 1997 (Human reproduction (Oxford, England)), a journal based in England.

More context: the Goserelin compound page, all human trials.