Comparison of Letrozole versus Danazol for the Pain Management of Females Presented with Endometriosis

Abstract

Endometriosis is an estrogen-regulated disease, and is signified by the existence of a particular endometrial tissue exterior to the uterus. It is a principal cause of long lasting morbidity, mostly from serious pelvic pain(1). Endometriotic tissue has the potential for aromatase gene expression that leads to aromatase
and estrogen production. Danazol is a synthetic androgen whereas Letrozole is aromatase inhibitor. This study was conducted to compare the mean decrease in visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score with Danazol versus Letrozole for the pain management of endometriosis in females. A total of 140 females fulfilling
inclusion criteria were registered and an non-probability purposive technique of sampling was used. Diagnostic laparoscopy was conducted to make a diagnosis of endometriosis. Females were divided into two groups. Females in group A received treatment with Letrozole tablets (2.5 mg/day) and in group B received
Danazol tablets (600 mg/day) for 3 months. Pelvic pain was assessed using VAS score and the mean decrease in pain score was assessed between two groups using independent sample student t-test. Results of this study demonstrate that the mean age of the patients was 29.99±5.80 and the mean pain score before treatment in Letrozole group was 3.04±1.01 while in Danazol group was 5.05±1.02. Post-three months of treatments, mean pain score was 2.01±0.95 and 2.78±0.99 in Letrozole and Danazol groups, respectively. The mean decrease in pain score in Letrozole group was 1.02±1.09 (p-value=0.00) while in Danazol group; it was 3.06±1.23 (p-value=0.00). This difference in pain score was considerably different in both treatment groups. A higher decrease in pain score was observed in Danazol compared to Letrozole treated groups.