Adverse effects of a SERM (Levormeloxifene): Safety parameters and bone mineral density 12 months after treatment withdrawal

Abstract

Objective: Levormeloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). The development of the drug was discontinued due to intolerable adverse effects. This paper follow-up on the adverse events in a group of 234 women that was followed for 12 months without treatment after 12 months of treatment with levormeloxifene. Methods: Adverse events were recorded at all clinical visits. The double-layer thickness of the uterine endometrium was determined by transvaginal ultrasonography. Endometrial biopsies were obtained by pipelle. The biopsies taken at the entrance to the follow-up phase were taken under hysteroscopy-guidance. Bone mineral density of the total body, lumbar spine (L1–L4), hip and forearm was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: The most prominent adverse event was increased endometrial thickness over the pre-defined threshold of 8 mm. No cases of proliferative endometrium were reported. Following withdrawal of treatment the mean endometrial thickness approached baseline levels in a dose dependent manner. Hysteroscopic examinations showed that levormeloxifene was related to increased incidence of edema, vascularization and cysticity. In the levormeloxifene groups, a total of eight women had utero-vaginal prolapse and five women reported urinary incontinence (including worsening of a previously existing condition). Bone density in the spine and hip approached baseline levels during the 12 months of follow-up without treatment. Conclusion: Endometrial thickening, seen in association with the use of some SERM's, may lead to harmful adverse effects more than 12 months after treatment is initiated. Levormeloxifene prevents the postmenopausal bone loss, but the lowest effective dose is unknown.