Major Hemorrhage in a Patient with Multiple Submucous Leiomyomata during the Treatement of Long-Acting Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist

Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-agonist) therapy has been useful as an adjunct before myomectomy or hysterectomy for uterine myoma but the concealed risk is often overlooked. We report an extremely rare clinical presentation of a patient with multiple submucosal myomata during the treatment of long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-agonist) in a 23year-old, virgin woman. This patient exhibited heavy menstruation and severe anemia for half of a year. Ultrasound demonstrated multiple submucous myomata and intramural myomata. She received a conservative medical treatment by GnRH-agonist. The patient showed marked suppression of serum estradiol concentrations throughout treatment (＜ 20 pg/ml since first dose injection). The volume of the uterus decreased 21 % and the total volume of the uterine myomata decreased 27% at the end of the second dose injection. However, a sudden onset of major hemorrhage occurred at the 65th day without ”add-back” hormonal replacement therapy after initial therapy of GnRH-agonist. Hypovolemic shock followed Soon and immediately resuscitation was performed. After resuscitation, the patient was treated with hysteroscopic myomectomy, followed by 30ml balloon Foley catheter placement for compressing the intrauterine rough surface and hormonal replacement therapy. When uterus returned to the normal size at the end of the first week, intrauterine device was positioned and maintained for three months. The patient married four months later and got pregnant soon. Now she has a pregnancy of 22 gestational weeks. The phenomenon suggests presence of concealed and potential risk of GnRH-agonist for managing a patient with multiple submucous myomata, even though GnRH-agonist is a welldocumented transient treatment for uterine myomata not only by its effect on tumor shrinkage and decreasing blood loss during the myomectomy but also by providing a time for hematological recovery. This unexpected and unwanted clinical presentation should be alerted.