Aromatase inhibitors for the treatment of endometriosis: a systematic review about efficacy, safety and early clinical development

Abstract

Introduction: Pharmacotherapy has a key role in endometriosis treatment and management, however, a significant proportion of patients have only intermittent or limited benefits with current treatment options. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches are necessary.

Areas covered: This systematic review provides an overview of the efficacy and safety of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) as monotherapies and combination therapies for endometriosis. A systematic literature search was performed from January 1990 to April 2020 in the electronic database MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science.

Expert opinion: Based on the critical role of estrogens and the rate-limiting step in the production of the estrogens represented by the aromatase enzyme, AIs are a potential therapeutic option for women affected by endometriosis. Nevertheless, further research is needed to clarify the efficacy of AIs in this setting. Adverse effects need to be investigated to clarify the preventive role of add-back therapy. On that basis, AIs should be adopted only as second-line therapy in patients who are refractory to standard treatments in the setting of scientific research. Further studies should define best dosages, appropriate add-back therapies, administration routes, treatment length, and which patients may benefit more from AIs.

Keywords: Endometriosis; adverse effects; aromatase; aromatase inhibitors; chronic pelvic pain; dyschezia; dysmenorrhea; estrogen.