Menopause increases the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), possibly owing to the abrupt lack of estrogen. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) treatment in endometriosis is regarded as a model of pharmaceutical menopause. Thus, the effect of goserelin acetate, a GnRH analog that results in transient menopause, on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis will be evaluated in this study.
women of reproductive age
diagnosis of endometriosis. The disease is suspected by patient's individual history (chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia or/and dysmenorrhea) and the ultrasonographic imaging (chocolate cysts). The diagnosis is confirmed histologically, after laparoscopic surgical treatment and biopsy sampling, which will be interpreted by an independent blinded pathologist.
use of contraceptives, which is the first line treatment, is contraindicated or the patient does not consent to receive contraceptives, due to personal preferences.
written informed consent to participate to the study
mean ethanol consumption >10 g/day
history of other chronic liver disease (e.g., viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cholangitis and overlap syndromes, drug-induced liver injury, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, α1-antitrypsin deficiency)
liver cirrhosis
any malignancy
Parallel
Goserelin Acetate 3.6 mg inj, implant
Drug3.6 mg (1ml) administered subcutaneously once every month for 6 months (totally 6 injections)
Hepatic steatosis
Ultrasound-Guided Attenuation Parameter (UGAP) measured on an ultrasound machine GE Logiq E10s. Between-within group interactions in UGAP UGAP is a non-invasive index based on the attenuation quantification of the ultrasound beam through the hepatic parenchyma, thus used for hepatic steatosis quantification. Cut-off values of ≥ 0.53 dB/cm/MHz, ≥ 0.60 dB/cm/MHz, and ≥ 0.65 dB/cm/MHz have been proposed for the diagnosis of steatosis grade S1, S2, and S3, respectively
Hepatic fibrosis
Liver stiffness (LS) measured with 2D Shear Wave Elastography (2D SWE) on an ultrasound machine GE Logiq E10s. Between-within group interactions in LS 2D SWE is a non-invasive tool measuring the hepatic parenchyma stiffness, thus indirectly suggesting fibrosis stage (F). Cut-offs values of \<8.27 kPa, 8.27-9.39 kPa, 9.40-11.88 kPa and ≥11.88 kPa have been proposed for F0-F1, F2, F3, and F4, respectively.
Liver function tests I - ALT and AST
Between-within group interactions will be performed for each of the following parameters: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT; IU/l), aspartate aminotransferase (AST; IU/l); ALT to AST ratio will be calculated
Liver function tests II - γGT
Between-within group interactions will be performed for: γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT; IU/l)
Insulin resistance
Between-within group interactions will be performed for Homeostasis Model Assessment - Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), which is calculated by the formula: fasting glucose (mg/dl) × insulin (mU/l)/405, and is an index of insulin resistance; higher score indicates greater insulin resistance.
Lipid profile
Between-within group interactions will be performed for each of the following parameters: Total cholesterol (TC; mg/dL) Triglycerides (TG; mg/dL) High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; mg/dL) 4. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) LDL-C (mg/dL) is calculated by the formula: TC (mg/dl) - HDL-C (mg/dl) - TG (mg/dl)/5.
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Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki
Lead sponsor
424 General Military Hospital
Collaborator
