Systematic review of oral pharmacotherapeutic options for the management of uterine fibroids

Background: Uterine fibroids constitute a significant health problem in the United States, affecting upward of 11 million people.

Objective: Characterize the literature regarding the incidence of amenorrhea and reductions in abnormal uterine bleeding and fibroid size and to report on clinically relevant safety outcomes of oral medications that may be used to manage symptomatic uterine fibroids to assist in choice of therapeutic options.

Methods: A literature search was conducted through December 31, 2021, using Embase, MEDLINE, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts databases. Primary literature reporting on safety or efficacy data of any oral medication for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids was included. Relevant study characteristics, outcomes, and safety data were extracted. Data extraction was performed in duplicate with any discordant data reconciled by the entire investigative team.

Results: A total of 41 studies met inclusion criteria-28 randomized control trials (RCTs), 11 prospective observational studies, 1 phase-1 pharmacokinetic study, and 1 pooled study. The majority of literature involved the study of mifepristone (n = 26, [63.4%]), followed by vilaprisan (n = 5, [12.2%]), elagolix (n = 5, [12.2%]), relugolix (n = 4, [9.8%]), and linzagolix (n = 1 [2.4%]). A total of 33 articles (80.5%) reported results pertaining to the efficacy objectives of this review with all medications statistically significantly improving at least one of these domains. Hot flashes, liver function test abnormalities, and endometrial hyperplasia were the most often reported adverse events. Of the RCTs, 7 of 28 (25%) had a moderate-high risk of bias (RoB), whereas 10 of 11 (90.9%) observational studies had a moderate-high RoB. The majority of moderate-high RoB studies involved the study of mifepristone (15 of 18, 83.3%).

Conclusions: Given higher quality of evidence, confirmed therapeutic efficacy, and a milder adverse effect profile, the contemporary gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonists (elagolix, relugolix, linzagolix) and vilaprisan represent preferred oral treatment options for the management of uterine fibroids.