A randomized comparison of danazol and leuprolide acetate suppression of serum-soluble CD23 levels in endometriosis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of treatment with danazol and leuprolide acetate depot on serum-soluble CD23 concentrations in women with endometriosis. METHODS: This randomized trial involved 20 women 18-42 years old with regular menses and known pelvic endometriosis who were recruited from a university hospital between 1993 and 1998. Ten women took 200 mg of danazol three times daily for 6 months, and the remaining ten were given 3.75 mg of leuprolide acetate depot every 28 days for 6 months. Blood-soluble CD23 levels were measured before treatment, during the last 15 days of the 6-month treatment course, and 3 months after treatment. Only one blood sample was taken from ten women without endometriosis, between the 5th and 7th days of their menstrual cycles. For statistical analysis, we used independent and paired t tests with the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Soluble CD23 levels were significantly higher in women with endometriosis before treatment than in ten normal controls. Levels decreased significantly during treatment with either danazol or leuprolide acetate. Three months after treatment, soluble CD23 values remained lower than before treatment. There was no correlation between soluble CD23 concentrations and severity of endometriosis. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that endometriosis increases soluble CD23 levels, which can be suppressed with either danazol or leuprolide acetate injection.