Method for the therapeutic management of endometriosis

Abstract

The present inventions provides a method for therapeutic management of extrauterine proliferation of endometrial tissue, chronic pelvic pain and fallopian tube obstruction by short term induction treatment with an LH-RH antagonist for 4 to 12 weeks. According to another aspect of the present invention, the short term LH-RH treatment is followed by the combined or separate administration of one or more active agents selected from the group consisting of a contraceptive, preferably an oral contraceptive, a non-steroidal anti-rheumatic agent, an analgetic, an androgen other than a 17-alpha-alkyl substituted testosterone or any combinations thereof. According to a further aspect of the present invention a pharmaceutical composition comprising an LHRH antagonist and one ore more active agents selected from the group consisting of a contraceptive, preferably an oral contraceptive, a non-steroidal anti-rheumatic agent, an analgetic, an androgen other than a 17-alpha-alkyl substituted testosterone or any combinations thereof are provided.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A LHRH antagonist treatment method comprising the step of: (a) administering to a patient an LHRH antagonist in a monthly dose of 12 mg to 40 mg for 4 to 12 weeks. 
     
     
         29 . A LHRH antagonist treatment method comprising the step of: (a) administering to a patient an LHRH antagonist in a weekly dose of 3 mg to 10 mg for 4 to 12 weeks. 
     
     
         30 . A LHRH antagonist treatment method comprising the step of: (a) administering to a patient an LHRH antagonist in a daily dose of 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg for 4 to 12 weeks. 
     
     
         31 . The method of any one of  claims 28 - 30 , wherein step (a) is followed by a period of weeks or months where no LHRH antagonist is administered. 
     
     
         32 . The method of any one of  claims 28 - 30 , wherein step (a) is an intermittent treatment repeated two to three times a year. 
     
     
         33 . The method of any one of  claims 28 - 30 , wherein the LHRH antagonist is selected from cetrorelix, teverelix, ganirelix, antide, abarelix and Ac-D-Nal-D-pCl-Phe-D-Pal-Ser-N-Me-Tyr-D-Hci-Nle-Arg-Pro-D-Ala-NH 2 ; and an acetate or pamoate salt thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the LHRH antagonist is cetrorelix or an acetate or pamoate salt thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claims 34 , wherein the LHRH antagonist is cetrorelix pamoate. 
     
     
         36 . The method of any one of  claims 28 - 30 , wherein step (a) is followed by the combined or separate administration of one or more active agents. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein step (a) is followed by administration of a non-steroidal anti-rheumatic agent, an analgesic, or an androgen other than a 17-alpha-alkyl substituted testosterone or any combinations thereof.