The influence of high doses of oral medroxyprogesterone acetate on glucose tolerance, serum insulin levels and adrenal response to ACTH. A study of 17 patients under treatment for endometrial cancer

Abstract

Seventeen women aged 55 to 76 years who had been treated for endometrial cancer by surgery or radiotherapy or a combination of both were given 300 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) daily by mouth. Before treatment and again during the 3rd week of treatment an oral glucose tolerance test (with measurement of serum insulin levels) and an ACTH-stimulation test were done. All blood glucose levels tended to be higher with MOA therapy and serum insulin levels were significantly increased 3 h after a glucose load. The rise of serum cortisol 30 min after ACTH-stimulation was significantly less with MPA therapy. Oral MPA thus appeared to have a glucocorticoid-like action.