Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) for uterine leiomyomas
Abstract
Background
Uterine fibroids are benign tumours that arise from individual smooth muscle cells of the uterus. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are estrogen receptor (ER) ligands that act as estrogens in some tissues while blocking estrogen activity in others. There have been many clinical studies of various SERMs for uterine fibroids. However, their effectiveness is controversial.
Objectives
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of selective estrogen receptor modulators in women with uterine fibroids.
Search methods
We searched the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, the Register of Chinese trials developed by the Chinese Cochrane Centre, and the Chinese Med Database (Chinese Biomedical Disc), VIP, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. We handsearched a number of journals and searched reference lists, and searched databases of ongoing trials and the Internet. The searches were conducted in March and April 2012.
Selection criteria
We included randomised controlled studies of selective estrogen receptor modulators versus other forms of medical therapy, placebo or no treatment in women of reproductive age (18 to 45 years old) with confirmed uterine fibroids.
Data collection and analysis
Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed trial quality. As the studies identified were not sufficiently similar, we did not do a meta‐analysis but summarised the data in a narrative format.
Main results
Three studies involving 215 participants were included, the trial size varied from 25 to 100 women. The SERM in all cases was raloxifene. In one study women in both arms received gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue. Comparison interventions included no treatment and placebo. Two of the three included studies found a significant benefit from raloxifene, but the third study found no benefit at three or six‐month follow‐up. The overall quality of the evidence was low or very low. All three studies mentioned adverse reactions but data were limited.
Authors' conclusions
There is no consistent evidence from the limited number of studies that SERMs reduce the size of fibroids or improve clinical outcomes. Further studies are required to establish evidence of benefit of SERMs in treating women with uterine fibroids. This updated review did not find any new study for inclusion.
Plain language summary
Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) for uterine leiomyomas
Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are a novel synthetic estrogen receptor (ER) ligand, which may be useful for women with uterine fibroids. Three randomised clinical trials evaluating the beneficial and harmful effects of SERMs are included in this review. However, due to the small number of participants in the included studies, inconsistency in findings, and the poor quality of the evidence, the authors were not able to recommend their use or non‐use in women with uterine fibroids. No new studies were identified in the updated seach and there are no new findings for this updated review.
