Ulipristal Acetate Versus Leuprolide Acetate in Medical Management of Uterine Fibroids

Abstract

BACKGROUND We wanted to compare the effectiveness of the treatment and the adverse effects of ulipristal acetate and leuprolide acetate in the medical management of symptomatic uterine fibroids. METHODS This is a randomised controlled study conducted in the the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences from January 2019 to January 2020. 60 patients with symptomatic fibroids and excessive uterine bleeding were randomly divided. They were given daily therapy of ulipristal acetate 10 mg orally for 3 months or monthly injection leuprolide acetate 3.75 mg intramuscularly for 3 months. RESULTS Controlled uterine bleeding was observed in 98 % of patients who received oral therapy of ulipristal acetate of 10 mg, and 89 % of patients who received injections of leuprolide acetate, for differences in comparison with leuprolide acetate of 8.8 % points (95 % CI, 0.4 to 18.3) for ulipristal acetate of 10 mg. Median time of amenorrhea for those taking ulipristal acetate of 10 mg was 5 days, and 21 days for leuprolide acetate. 10 % of patients receiving ulipristal acetate reported moderateto-severe hot flashes and 40 % of patients receiving leuprolide acetate reported moderate to severe hot flashes (P < 0.0010 for each dose of leuprolide acetate vs. ulipristal acetate). CONCLUSIONS Daily therapy of 10-mg ulipristal acetate was considered non inferior when compared to monthly injections of leuprolide acetate in control of uterine bleeding, moreover ulipristal acetate therapy was also significantly less likely to cause hot flashes. KEY WORDS Ulipristal Acetate; Leuprolide acetate; Abnormal Uterine Bleeding; Leiomyoma