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Case Reports
. 2012 Sep;29(9):973-7.
doi: 10.1007/s10815-012-9816-9. Epub 2012 Jun 12.

Resumption of ovarian function after 4 years of estro-progestin treatment in a young woman with Crohn's disease and premature ovarian insufficiency: a case report

Ettore Caroppo  1 , Giuseppe D'Amato
Affiliations
Case Reports

Resumption of ovarian function after 4 years of estro-progestin treatment in a young woman with Crohn's disease and premature ovarian insufficiency: a case report

Ettore Caroppo et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2012 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose: To report the long-term management of a case of premature ovarian insufficiency of unknown origin in a young woman with Crohn's disease.

Method: Here is reported the case of a 20 years old woman with Crohn's disease presenting with two years amenorrhea and FSH and LH levels of 255 mIU/ml and 182 mIU/ml respectively, who received 10 months corticosteroid treatment followed by 7 years of estro-progestin treatment.

Results: Corticosteroid treatment was ineffective in restoring patients gonadotropin levels as well as ovarian volume, while estro-progestins promoted a prompt reduction in gonadotrophin levels, which returned in the normal range after two years of treatment, as well as restoration of ovarian function, which occurred after four years of estrogens administration, as demonstrated by normal ovarian volume and ovulatory follicles at ultrasound, and by the re-establishment of regular menses after estroprogestin discontinuation.

Conclusions: Long-term suppression of the endogenous gonadotropins using estroprogestins may be suggested as a treatment able to restore ovarian responsiveness even in patients with premature ovarian insufficiency showing highly elevated gonadotropin levels.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Gonadotropin levels in response to corticosteroid and estro-progestin treatment. Arrows indicate when treatment was started P = Prednisone CE = Estro-progestins
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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