Female Gonadal Hormones and Inhibitors (Linger DSA) - SRS Flashcards
What are the drug categories we need to know from this assignment? 9
- Menotropins (human menopausal gonadotropins, or hMG)
- Follicle stimulating hormone
- Leuteinizing hormone
- Human choriogonadotropin hormone
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists
- Estrogens
- Progestins
- Estrogen and progesterone inhibitors and antagonists
What are the three follicle stimulating hormones?
- Follitropin alfa (rFSH alfa)
- Follitropin beta (rFSH beta)
- Urofollitropin (uFSH)
Follitropins
What is the leutenizing hormone drug?
Lutropin alfa
What are the gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs?
- Leuprolide (prototype)
- Goserelin
- Histrelin
- Nafarelin
- Triptorelin
- Gonadorelin (synthetic human GnRH)
mostly “relins”
What are the gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists?
- Cetrorelix
- Degarelix
- Ganirelix
“relix”
What are the four estrogens covered here?
- Conjugated estrogens (Premarin)
- Estradiol valerate
- Ethinyl estradiol
- Mestranol
What are the progestins?
- Desogestrel (inactive prodrug) and Etonogestrel (active metabolite)
- Drospinenone
- Medroxyprogesterone
- Norethindrone
- Norgestimate
- Norgestrel (L-norgestrel, levonorgestrel)
What are the estrogen and progesterone antagonists and inhibitors?
- Mifepristone
- Selective estrogen receptor modulators
- Raloxifene
- Tamoxifen
- Toremifene
- Selective estrogen receptor downregulators
- Clomiphene
- Fulvestrant
- Aromatase inhibitors
- Anastrazole
- Exemestane
- Letrozole
What are the SERMs this time around? 3
- Raloxifene
- Tamoxifen
- Toremifene
What are the SERDs (selective estrogen receptor downregulators)? 2
- Clomiphene
- Fulvestrant
What are the aromatase inhibitors we covered? 3
- Anastrazole
- Exemestane
- Letrozole
Menotropins (human menopausal gonadotropins, or hMG) are Purified FSH and LH extracted from the urine of postmenopausal women combined with an FSH like substance and an LH like substance. (Assuming I’m interpreting this from the DSA correctly, which may be a big if)/ What are the clinical uses for this?
3
- Used in conjunction with hCG to induce ovulation and pregnancy in infertile females experiencing anovulation not caused by primary ovarian failure
- Stimulation of multiple follicle development in ovulatory patients as part of an ART
- Unlabeled: Stimulation of spermatogenesis in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
What is urofollitropin?
is purified human FSH extracted from the urine of postmenopausal women (no LH activity)
What are follitropin alfa and follitropin beta?
Recombinant FSH (rFSH), with AA sequences identical to human FSH
rFSH preparations have a shorter half-life but stimulate estrogen secretion equal to or greater than uFSH. Why might we prefer to use uFSH?
rFSH is very costly
rFSH and uFSH are used to stimulate ovulation in what 2 types of patients?
Which type is preferred for each?
- in patients who previously received pituitary suppression (uFSH)
- patients in whom the cause of infertility is functional and not caused by primary ovarian failure (rFSH alfa and beta)
What are two additional clinical uses of FSH drugs?
Which ones are useful for each?
- Spermatogenesis induction in men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in whom the cause of infertility is not due to primary testicular failure (rFSH alfa and beta)
- Development of multiple follicles with ART (uFSH, rFSH alfa and beta)
What is lutropin alfa?
What is its only use?
Recombinant form of human LH
- Only used in combination with rFSH alfa for stimulation of follicular development in infertile women with profound LH deficiency
What are the two types of hCG we use clinically?
- extracted and purified from the urine of pregnant females
- Choriogonadotropin alfa (rhCG) is a recombinant form of hCG
What is extracted hCG used standalone for?
What about in combination with rFSH?
- Standalone: to induce ovulation and pregnancy in anovulatory, infertile females
- With rFSH: treatment of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, spermatogenesis induction with rFSH
In what female patients is rhCG used and for what purpose? 2
- induces ovulation in infertile females who have been pretreated with follicle stimulating hormones
- induces ovulation and pregnancy in infertile females when the cause of infertility is functional
What are the adverse effects of hCG?
- Multiple pregnancies (15 - 20% increase in ART patients)
- uncomplicated ovarian enlargement
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
hCG has the risk of inducing multiple pregnancies, apart from the unexpected burden of two children, why else might this be bad? 3
Increased risk of…
- Gestational Diabetes
- Preeclampsia
- preterm labor
As we established, hCG puts patients at risk for multiple pregnancies, overstimulation and enlargement of the ovary that spontaneously resolves, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which occurs in 0.5 - 4% of patients.
What is this last ADR characterized by? 5
- Ovarian enlargement
- ascites
- hydrothorax
- hypovolemia
- shock
What are the GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE analogues?
- Leuprolide (prototype)
- goserelin
- histrelin
- nafarelin
- triptorelin
- gonadorelin
Using a GnRH analogue produces the following results…
During the first 7-10 days of administration, an agonist effect results in increased concentrations of gonadal hormones (referred to as a flare)
After the first 7-10 days, the continued presence of GnRH (or analog) results in an inhibitory action that manifests as a drop in the concentration of gonadotropins and gonadal steroids.
Explain this second part.
This is d/t receptor down-regulation and changes in the signaling pathways activated by GnRH.
What are two clinical uses of Leuprolide and friends? Which is more commonly employed?
- Clinical situations where stimulation of gonadotropin production is useful
- Clinical situations where suppression of gonadotropin production is useful (more commonly used here)
So what are two examples of clinical situations where Leuprolide is used to stimulate gonadotropin production?
- Female and male infertility (usually tx’d with more convenient and less costly gonadotropins)
- Diagnosis of LH responsiveness (determines whether delayed puberty in a hypogonadotropic adolescent is due to constitutional delay or to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism)
What are five clinical situations where Leuprolide and friends are used to suppress gonadotropin production?
- Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (e.g., to prevent premature ovulation by endogenous LH in IVF patients)
- Endometriosis
- Uterine leiomyomata (benign, estrogen-sensitive uterine fibroids); treatment may reduce size
- Prostate cancer (often combined with androgen receptor antagonist; this strategy is as effective as surgical castration in reducing serum testosterone concentrations and effects)
- Central precocious puberty
What are some ADRs/toxicities of the Leuprolide type drugs in females? (lots, try to get the big ones)
- Continuous treatment of women with a GnRH analog causes the typical symptoms of menopause, which include hot flushes, sweats, and headaches
- Additional adverse effects include depression, diminished libido, generalized pain, vaginal dryness, and breast atrophy; decreased bone density and osteoporosis may occur with long-term use
- Ovarian cysts may develop during the first 2 months of treatment; discontinue therapy if cysts do not resolve after an additional 6 weeks
What are two contraindications to the use of Leuprolide and CO?
Breast feeding
pregnancy
What are some ADRs of Leuprolide in men? up to 8
- Continuous GnRH agonist administration in men cause hot flushes, sweats, edema, gynecomastia, decreased libido, decreased hematocrit, reduced bone density, and asthenia
What is the MOA of Ganirelix and cetrorelix?
-
GnRH RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS
- MOA: synthetic competitive antagonists of GnRH receptors - inhibit the secretion of FSH and LH in a dose-dependent manner
GnRH RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS are used to suppress gonadotropin production, what are Ganirelix and cetrorelix used for?
Suppress LH surge during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation
What is Degarelix used for? Why?
Treatment of advanced prostate cancer by reducing gonadotropin and androgen concentrations at a much faster rate than GnRH agonists, and avoid the initial testosterone surge.