Treatment of bleeding gastrointestinal vascular malformations with oestrogen-progesterone.

Abstract

10 patients with frequent and severe bleeding from gastrointestinal vascular malformations took part in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial of a daily dose of 0.05 mg ethinyloestradiol plus 1 mg norethisterone given by mouth. Each arm of the trial lasted 6 months. Oestrogen-progesterone significantly decreased the transfusion need from 10.9 to 1.1 units packed cells (p less than 0.003). While on oestrogen-progesterone 2 of 9 patients required transfusions (mean 1.1 units packed cells per patient over 6 months), whereas all patients had to be transfused while on placebo (mean 10.9 units per patient over 6 months; p = 0.002 for number of patients). No significant excess of side-effects was noted with the active agents. The findings indicate that oestrogen-progesterone is an effective treatment for severely bleeding gastrointestinal vascular malformations.

• Authors: E van Cutsem, P Rutgeerts, G Vantrappen
• Journal: Lancet (London, England) (Lancet) Vol. 335 Issue 8695 Pg. 953-5 (Apr 21 1990) ISSN: 0140-6736 [Print] England
• PMID: 1970032 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Drug Combinations
• Ethinyl Estradiol
• Norethindrone

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Arteriovenous Malformations (complications)
• Blood Transfusion (statistics & numerical data)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Digestive System (blood supply)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Combinations
• Drug Evaluation
• Erythrocyte Transfusion
• Ethinyl Estradiol (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage (drug therapy, etiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Norethindrone (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Recurrence
• Time Factors