Two drugs for menstrual disorders that can promote brain tumors

The Medicines Agency warned about the use of Lutéran and Lutényl, prescribed for gynecological disorders. They could lead, in some cases, to benign brain tumors.

New recommendations concerning Lutenyl and Lutéran, drugs prescribed for certain gynecological problems, including endometriosis. They are also used during premenopause, menopause and sometimes as a contraceptive. It is the Medicines Agency (ANSM) which, in a press release dated January 12, 2021, warns of high risks of benign brain tumors. "In view of the demonstrated increased risk of meningioma associated with taking nomegestrol acetate (Lutenyl and generics) and chlormadinone acetate (Lutéran and generics), we are publishing recommendations on the use of these treatments and on monitoring of the women concerned ", declared the ANSM. Le Parisien recalls that nearly "400,000 women have consumed these drugs" in 2019.

New recommendations for Lutényl and Lutéran

The ANSM expert committee believes that the use of these drugs should be restricted to specific indications as quickly as possible. And the benefit / risk ratio must be reassessed at least once a year. Because "the risk increases sharply with the cumulative dose, the duration and the age of the patient", she explains. "There is a strong association in women between exposure to these two macro-progestins and neurosurgical management of a meningioma (risk multiplied by 3.3 and 3.4) in the incident cohort", announces Dr. Alain Weill, member of the study. A meningioma is a tumor of the meninges, the latter enveloping the brain. Based on 1.8 million women on nomegestrol acetate and 1.5 million on chlormadinone acetate, between January 1, 2007 and December 31, the analysis showed "more than 1000 operated meningiomas attributable to these two molecules between 2007 and 2018, or around 100 cases per year".

An assiduous check by MRI

The ANSM, following its expertise, highlights monitoring by brain imaging (MRI) regardless of the patient's age and "at any time during or after treatment in the event of signs suggestive of meningiomas". And that "after one year of treatment when the latter needs to be continued, then five years after the first MRI, then every two years as long as the treatment is continued". Treatments are prohibited for women in "menopause, artificial cycle in combination with estrogen, cycle irregularities, premenstrual syndrome, non-severe mastodynia or contraception (without associated cardiovascular risk factor)". Each disorder and associated treatment should therefore be discussed with its attending physician.

Celine Peschard

Journalist who likes the versatility that his job can offer. Specialized in the historical field, societal subjects and auteur films, against a background of electronic music. University curriculum based …