GYNECOLOGY

Tratamentul medical al endometriozei: este opţiunea medicului?

 Medical treatment of endometriosis: is it a choice of the physician?

First published: 13 martie 2020

Editorial Group: MEDICHUB MEDIA

DOI: 10.26416/Gine.27.1.2020.2885

Abstract

Introduction. Endometriosis is a chronic benign pathology and the long-term management plan should include me­di­cal treatment and surgical procedures. The current treat­ment of endometriosis is based on surgery and ova­rian suppressive agents. Materials and method. An ana­ly­sis of the articles published in the specialty li­te­ra­ture in order to evaluate the main pharmaceutical op­tions used in the treatment of endometriosis and the re­cur­rence rate of the disease. Results. Oral contraceptives, pro­ge­stins, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists, and aromatase inhibitors are the most com­monly used agents in the treatment of endometriosis. Hor­mo­nal treat­ments are often associated with unwanted ef­fects, such as delayed conception and recurrence of the di­sease and symptoms when stopped. The recurrence rate of endometriosis after the surgical treatment is almost 50%. The use of oral contraceptives and progestins was de­mon­stra­ted to be effective in lowering the recurrence rate of en­do­me­trio­sis. Conclusions. Long-term medical therapy should be recommended for the treatment of endometriosis in or­der to control symptoms and to prevent recurrence after sur­gery. After first-line surgery, women should be informed of the high risk of endometriosis recurrence, and they should be invited to seek conception as soon as possible. An alternative is to inhibit ovulation until pregnancy is con­si­dered.
 

Keywords
endometriosis, management, recurrence, medical treatment, oral contraceptives, progestins, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, aromatase inhibitors

Rezumat

Introducere. Endometrioza este o patologie cronică be­nig­nă, iar managementul ei implică adoptarea unei stra­te­gii pe termen lung care include tratament me­di­cal şi terapie chirurgicală. Tratamentul actual al en­do­me­trio­zei se ba­zează pe intervenţie chirurgicală şi pe terapia de su­pre­sie hormonală. Materiale şi metodă. Analiza articolelor pu­bli­cate în literatura de specialitate pen­tru a evalua principalele op­­ţiuni farmaceutice utilizate în tratamentul endometriozei şi rata de recurenţă a bolii. Rezultate. Contraceptivele orale, pro­ge­s­ta­ti­vele, agoniştii sau antagoniştii hormonului eliberator al gonadotropinelor şi inhibitorii de aromatază reprezintă op­­ţiu­­nile terapeutice utilizate cel mai frecvent în tratamentul en­­do­­me­triozei. Tra­ta­men­tul hormonal este asociat frecvent cu efec­te nedorite, cum ar fi întârzierea obţinerii unei sarcini sau re­cu­ren­ţa simptomatologiei şi a bolii la oprirea tratamentului. Rata de recurenţă a endometriozei după tratamentul chi­rur­gi­cal este de aproape 50%. Utilizarea contraceptivelor orale şi a progestativelor are o eficienţă demonstrată în scăderea ratei de recurenţă a andometriozei. Concluzii. Terapia me­di­ca­men­toa­să pe termen lung trebuie recomandată în tratamentul en­do­me­triozei pentru controlul simptomatologiei şi pentru a preveni recurenţa după intervenţia chirurgicală. După in­ter­ven­ţia chirurgicală iniţială, pacientele trebuie informate în legătură cu riscul crescut de recurenţă a endometriozei şi tre­buie îndrumate spre obţinerea unei sarcini cât mai curând po­si­bil. Ca alternativă, tratamentul de inhibiţie hormonală tre­bu­ie recomandat până la momentul dorinţei de a obţine o sarcină.

Introduction

Endometriosis is a benign pathology of the female reproductive tract that is characterized by the implantation of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. This pathology is associated with two main manifestations: infertility and chronic pelvic pain of varying intensity. These two aspects affect the quality of life, ranging from mild to severe(1).

The current medical therapies options interfere with estrogen production and, due to that, they cause atrophy to endometriotic implants and stop bleeding. Combined contraceptives, progestins, aromatase inhibitors and gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues can be used as a therapy option in the treatment of endometriosis. Sadly, they come with side effects, such as recurrence of endometriosis and hypoestrogenic state(2,3).

In patients who haven’t received surgical intervention, the most frequent complaints – such as chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia – are evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) or Visual Rating Scale (VRS). Another important aspect to consider when treating patients with endometriosis is the evaluation of the quality of life. The most frequent questionnaire used in studies is represented by the SF-36 score.

Oral contraceptives

Oral contraceptive (OC) pills promote atrophy of endometrial lesions through decidualization(4). Oral contraceptives are prescribed in the early stages (minimal and mild) of the disease for pain relief(5). A low dose of oral contraceptivea ameliorates dysmenorrhea and other pain symptoms like non-menstrual pain and deep dyspareunia, as a large randomized study showed(6).

In a multicentric randomized study, 100 patients with endometriosis were assigned to receive oral contraceptives cyclically for three months or placebo treatment(7). The patients were followed-up for three months in order to assess dysmenorrhea using Visual Analogue Scale, repercussions on daily activities and analgesic consumption(7). The results of this study demonstrated that oral contraceptives decreased dysmenorrhea significantly in comparison with the placebo group – VAS: 9 versus 3.1 points, composite pain score: 2 versus 0.7 points(7).

A study published in 2008 on 277 patients evaluated the benefits of long-term oral contraception after surgical intervention for laparoscopic endometriosis cystectomy(8). Out of this cohort, 102 patients received treatment for the entire duration of the follow-up, 129 patients discontinued the treatment, and 46 patients refused the treatment(8). There was a statistical significant difference between patients who received continuous treatment and patients who refused the treatment(8). The recurrence rate for endometriotic cyst was 9 out of 102 patients who received continuous treatment, and 26 out of 46 patients who refused the treatment (56%)(8).

Some authors suggest to substitute the combined contraceptive pills with progesterone-only pills in the postoperative phase, who can better control pain and induce the regression of endometriosis(9).

The administration of oral contraceptives can be cyclic or continuous. The continuous use has some advantages (reduction of dysmenorrhea) compared with the cyclic use. But when it comes to other symptoms or ovarian endometrioma recurrence rate, there are no statistical differences(10). A randomised controlled study demonstrated that long-term administration in a cyclic use of contraceptives had a lower rate of recurrent dysmenorrhea(11). One of the disadvantages of continuous use is that it can lead to metrorrhagia and to prolonged pain(12).

Among most common side effects of the contraceptive pills are headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood changes. Regarding the risk of blood clots, the difference between the women who do not take pills and the ones who take the pills is not major (2 women in 10,000 versus 5 to 12 in 10,000)(13). We can say the same thing about the risk of breast cancer (100 in 10,000 versus 110 in 10,000)(13).
 

Table 1. Hormonal activity of progesterone in the treatment of endometriosis. Adapted from Vercellini et al.
Table 1. Hormonal activity of progesterone in the treatment of endometriosis. Adapted from Vercellini et al.

Progestins

The intrauterine device (IUD) with levonorgestrel provides the improvement of dysmenorrhea scores in patients with endometriosis by releasing up to 20 µg of active substance. This mechanism promotes, in a first phase, the decidualization of the endometrial implants(14). In a second phase, they induce atrophy(5). Progestins induce the transformation of potent form of estrogens to a weaker form and can promote the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase. A systematic review on the use of levonorgestrel after the initial surgical treatment provides information regarding the pain scores(15). One of the main benefits of this therapy is that it provides a good therapeutic option for a period of 5 years without the disadvantages of a hypoestrogenic state(16).

There are several studies in patients who were operated for deep infiltrative endometriosis that demonstrate an improvement in the pain control and a reduction of the rectovaginal lesions(17,18). A prospective non-randomized trial published in 2001 provides information regarding the patients with deep infiltrative endometriosis (rectovaginal septum) who were treated using intrauterine device with levonorgestrel(18). In this study, 11 patients presented with moderate or severe pain(18). All of the patients were evaluated using the reported grade of dysmenorrhea and non-cyclical pelvic pain at 12 months after the treatment(18). Five of the patients reported no dyspareunia and six of them reported weak dyspareunia(18).

In a study which analyzed the therapy of the endometriosis patients after conservative laparoscopic surgery, the authors examined 40 patients who received treatment with levonorgestrel intrauterine device or expectant management(2). One year after the beginning of the study, the results were significantly in favour of the treatment with levonorgestrel compared to the expectant management in terms of dysmenorrhea scores(2). In a postoperative state, a continuous cure with progestins can be made for women who want a future pregnancy(9).

Progestins are safe to be used and they can be prescribed when patients can’t or won’t take oral contraceptives. They should be recommended to women with deep lesions, colorectal nodules or with deep dyspareunia(12,19,20).

The hormonal activity of different types of progesterone, as well as the half-life time are presented in Table 1(21).

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists

The administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists creates a low estrogen environment by supressing the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) production. This mechanism inhibits the proliferation of the endometriotic implants.  When GnRH are administered for the treatment of patients with endometriosis, it is recommended to offer an add-back therapy with estrogen in order to prevent the reduction of mineral bone density and to improve the quality of life of the patient. The use of add-back therapy in the context of endometriosis does not reduce the efficacy of the GnRH agonists for the pain symptoms. A study showed that, after 10 years of administration of GnRH agonists with add-back therapy, there was no reduction in mineral bone density(22). Other minor adverse reactions include hot flashes, vaginal atrophy and dryness, headache, vasomotor impairments and an increase in serum lipid levels(23)
 

Table 2. Side effects of aromatase inhibitors treatment
Table 2. Side effects of aromatase inhibitors treatment

The usefulness of GnRH agonists consist in the possi­bi­lity of administering them in the period before proges­to­gens or occasionally when the patient has pain symptoms or bleeding. They can be also used when there is no response to progestogens and the surgery is not an option(24,25).

GnRH antagonists are effective in the treatment of endometriosis. There are fewer adverse reactions and no estradiol add-back therapy is necessary. The analogues for GnRH antagonists could prove superior to GnRH agonists due to prompt suppression of LH and FSH secretion(26). In a study on 15 women who were administered GnRH antagonists (Cetrorelix®), it was demonstrated that they are useful: all patients had a pain-free period, and regression occurred in 60% of the cases(27).

Aromatase inhibitors

The mechanism of action for aromatase inhibitors addresses the action of aromatase by blocking this enzyme(28). This enzyme converts androgens into estrogens through a physiological process called aromatization(28). In premenopausal women, the main source of estrogen is the ovary, while in postmenopausal women this hormone is produced in the peripheral tissues(28).
 

Table 3. Therapeutic strategies in painful endometriosis
Table 3. Therapeutic strategies in painful endometriosis
Table 4. Three-level risk stratification system and treatment options. Adapted from Vercellini et al.(21)
Table 4. Three-level risk stratification system and treatment options. Adapted from Vercellini et al.(21)

The endometriotic tissue has aromatase expression beside the normal endometrium. Aromatase produces estrogen and these high levels of estrogen produced in the pheripheral tissues determine the proliferation and invasion of the endometrial lesions. This promotes pain through a prostaglandin-mediated inflammation(29).

The third-generation aromatase inhibitors, such as anastrozole, letrozole and exemestane, provide a specific effect and reduce the number of side effects associated with this treatment(3). The aromatase inhibitors’ side effects are presented in Table 2(28,30). The administration of aromatase inhibitors in association with another therapy (progestins or OCs) is more efficient than the administration alone, as a systematic review showed(30).

Therapeutic strategies

The medical therapies that are used nowadays have comparable effects as painkillers, but there are differences regarding the side effects, the tolerance and the costs(13). The objective of medical therapy is to alleviate pain. The surgical treatment of endometriosis has an increased improvement on pain symptoms and the quality of life, especially for severe endometriosis. Considering that the disease can reappear, the medical treatment should be used to avoid recurrence of the pain symptoms and endometriosis, but not for improving fertility(31).

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline states that “after laparoscopic excision or ablation of endometriosis, consider hormonal treatment (with, for example, the combined oral contraceptive pill) to prolong the benefits of surgery and manage symptoms”(32).

The first-line medical treatment in painful endometriosis is represented by estroprogestative oral contraceptives and progestins (desogestrel, dienogest, medroxyprogesterone acetate, IUD-levonorgestrel in rectovaginal endometriosis)(33). The second-line treatment options are GnRH agonist with add-back therapy and aromatase inhibitors(33).

Regarding aromatase inhibitors, they should be prescribed only to a limited group of patients who complain of severe pain after surgical procedures and hormonal therapies(31).

Tables 3 and 4 present two different manners on how to choose the right medical treatment option regarding pain (Table 3) or lesion type (Table 4) as a decisional factor(21).

Rate of recurrence following surgery
and therapeutic options 

Even though it is very effective, the surgical treatment of endometriosis is not without risks. Beside morbidity and complications, the recurrence rate of endometriosis after surgery is a threat: after two years the recurrence is around 21.5%, and after five years, 40-50% of patients relapse and they will need another surgery(34,35). Of these patients, 27% will need three or more surgeries that would lead to increased morbidity and would lower the ovarian reserve(36-38). Recurrence prevention is a priority in endometriosis management and is crucial for future fertility. The recurrence rate is different from case to case, and it depends on the severity of the disease and the quality of the surgery(39).

Regarding the hormonal treatment of recurrent endometriosis, NICE guideline states to “offer hormonal treatment (for example, the combined oral contraceptive pill or a progesterone) to women with recurrent endometriosis”(32).

Oral contraceptives and progestins can be used for the prevention of endometriomas, as showed in mul­ti­ple studies(40,41). For example, in a study on 239 wo­men who have undergone laparoscopic excision of ova­rian endometriomas, three groups were formed: con­ti­nuous users of OCs, cyclic users of OCs, and an observational group(40). The recurrence rate was low in the groups who used oral contraceptives (8.2% in con­ti­nuous users and 14.7% in cyclic users) compared to non-users (29%)(40). It is a chance that oral contra­cep­tive could be used not only for reducing endome­trio­tic cyst, but also to lower the risk of peritoneal re­im­plan­tation due to decreased menstrual flow and endometrial tissue(41). The period of post-surgery administration of oral contraceptives should be long, because the protective effect tends to disappear fast after interruption(8).

The positive effect of the estroprogestins on recurrence of endometriosis is sustained by several studies, and this therapy should be recommended in women who do not want pregnancy(35). This effect is, unfortunately, limited to the period of administration. Thus, the prolonged use of estroprogestins after surgery leads to decreased risk of endometriomas and dysmenorrhea recurrence(35).

In a study that compared the usefulness of dienogest versus goserelin, 198 women were included and followed-up after laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis(42). The study showed that there was a significant difference between dienogest group and the non-treatment group regarding the recurrence rate(42). The side effects were more pronounced in the women with goserelin treatment(42). Thus, dienogest is more effective compared to goserelin in the long-term administration for preventing endometriosis recurrence(42).

Conclusions

Endometriosis is a common estrogen-dependent disorder that can result in substantial morbidity, including pelvic pain, multiple operations and infertility. The current treatment of endometriosis is mainly based on surgery and ovarian suppressive agents, but the management should be individualized according to symptomatology, degree of disease and the reproductive status. The current medical treatments of endometriosis act by blocking ovarian function, suppressing menstruation and inducing endometrial atrophy. Their main limitation is the contraceptive effect for women seeking pregnancy.

The purpose of the medical treatment is to control symptoms, to preserve the residual reproductive potential, to prevent the endometriosis progression, to prevent the new development of endometriosis lesions and progression of adhesions, to avoid serial surgery and, at the same time, it should have a favorable effect on the body and on social and mental well-being.

After first-line surgery, women should be informed about the high risk of endometriosis recurrence and they should be invited to seek conception as soon as possible. An alternative is to inhibit ovulation until pregnancy is considered.

The long-term hormone therapy should be recommended after surgery in order to treat endometriosis and should be used until the woman decides to conceive.

Conflicts of interests: The authors declare no conflict of interests.

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