Hepatic adenomas induced by norethisterone in patients receiving renal dialysis.

Abstract

The association between using oral contraceptives long term and developing hepatic adenomas is known,t2 but there has been only one report of such lesions occurring in a patient with end stage renal failure who had received oestrogens and norethisterone.3 Dysfunctional uterine bleeding may be severe in patients receiving dialysis, contributes to their anaemia, may be exacerbated by anticoagulation during haemodialysis, and is difficult to treat. Continuous high dose norethisterone (up to 30 mg/day) has been used successfully, though breakthrough bleeding often occurs if the dose is reduced. We report the development of hepatic adenomas in two patients receiving dialysis who were treated with high dose norethisterone.