Abstract
RU 486 was first used in humans to interrupt the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy (Herrmann et al., 1982). An increase in blood cortisol was observed in women who received RU 486 to induce abortion during weeks 6–8 of pregnancy, whereas no changes occurred when RU 486 was used for menstrual cycle interruption. Because RU 486 possesses antiglucocorticosteroid activity in addition to its antiprogesterone property (Philibert et al., 1981), full investigation of this effect is essential in order to evaluate its importance and nature with respect to its use in human fertility control. The antiglucocorticosteroid activity may also be of interest to clinicians and to basic scientists. Clinical applications of RU 486 may include a new approach to the therapy of hypercortisolism (Cushing’s syndrome) and possibly an alternative provocative test for ACTH reserve. The present chapter reports investigations on the antiglucocorticosteroid effect of RU 486 on the pituitary-adrenal axis in men and in pregnant and non-pregnant women.
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References
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© 1985 Plenum Press, New York
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Gaillard, R.C., Riondel, A., Muller, A.F., Herrmann, W., Baulieu, E.E. (1985). RU 486: Studies of Its Antiglucocorticosteroid Activity in Man. In: Baulieu, EE., Segal, S.J. (eds) The Antiprogestin Steroid RU 486 and Human Fertility Control. Reproductive Biology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1242-0_30
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1242-0_30
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