Variable response of plasma GH in acromegalic patients treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate

Abstract

Eleven active acromegalic patients were given 40-80 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) daily by mouth for 5 months to 1 yr. Three patients had significant reductions in mean 24-hr growth hormone concentration (MGHC) from pretreatment levels of 547, 348 and 237 to 34, 61 and 80 ng/ml, respectively, at 5 months post MPA. This decrease was associated with subjective improvement. Five patients with lower initial plasma GH levels developed significant increases in their MGHC while taking MPA. In the doses given, MPA produced no abnormality of PBI, T4, cholesterol, triglyceride, folic acid, glucose tolerance, or insulin during 5 months of administration. © 1971 by The Endocrine Society.