Debilitating "functional" bowel disease controlled by leuprolide acetate, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog.

In this informal initial study, four female patients with intractable chronic abdominal pain, daily nausea, intermittent vomiting, and altered stool habits due to "functional" disease were investigated. A gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog agonist, leuprolide acetate (Lupron) [D-leu6, Desgly-NH2(10), Proethylamide9], was administered once daily (0.5 mg subcutaneously) for three months. At the end of the three-month period, three subjects were symptom-free and the fourth experienced only mild and intermittent pain. The leuprolide regimen was continued for an additional three months, and estrogen (0.625 mg orally) and calcium (1000 mg orally) were given daily to prevent osteoporosis. The patients remained symptom-free. A challenge with progesterone then induced recurrence of mild symptoms in each subject. Withdrawing leuprolide induced the baseline symptoms in all patients within three to five days. This regimen has now been continued for up to 15 months, and all four patients have remained generally symptom-free. Progesterone has also been given every three months to induce menses. A fifth patient, with Roux-en-Y syndrome, has also been treated with leuprolide. She is symptom-free after six months and has gained weight. In this initial observation period in patients with severe functional (neuromuscular) bowel disease, the GnRH analog agonist leuprolide controlled pain, nausea, and vomiting.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)