Mifepristone (RU486), the first clinically available antiprogestin, has generated great interest since its discovery in the early 1980s. Today, it is recognized that mifepristone, along with other antiprogestins, has a potentially significant therapeutic role in human health and disease, with likely applicability to a variety of pregnancy-related conditions (e.g., management of labor) and to contraception, endometriosis, and cancer, among others. But because mifepristone has been studied and used most widely as a means of nonsurgical abortion, political issues have thus far limited research on the drug and prevented its introduction into the U.S. market.


This book provides an unbiased evaluation of current knowledge about both the fundamental nature of antiprogestins as well as their possible use in treating numerous diseases and conditions, and it contains recommendations for future research.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Summary
INtroduction
Uses of Antiprogestins: The Reproductive Cycle (Part I)
Uses of Antiprogestins: The Reproductive Cycle (Part II)
Other Therapeutic Uses of Antiprogestins
Antiglucocorticoid Effects of Antiprogestins
Animals as Models for Studying Antiprogestins
Appendix A: Agenda fr the IOM Workshop 'Antiprogestins: Assessing the Science'
Appendix B: Background Papers and Presentations (In Order of Presentation at IOM Workshop)
B1. 1993: RU 486--A Decade on Today and Tomorrow
B2. Overview and Background: Mechanism of Action of Antiprogestins
B3. The Use of Antiprogestins in the Reproductive Cycle
B4. Potential Contraceptive Effects of Antigestogens
B5. Use of Antiprogestins Before 63 Days of Amenorrhea
B6. Uses of Antiprogestins After 63 Days of Amenorrhea
B7. Comments on Session II
B8. Use of Antiprogestins in the Management of Endometriosis and Leiomyoma
B9. Antiprogestins and the Treatment of Breast Cancer
B10. Uses of RU 486 as an Antiglucocoticoid
B11. Primate Models for the Study of Antiprogestins in Reproductive Medicine
B12. ANtiprogestogens: Perspectives from a Global Research Program
Appendix C: Observers at the Workshop on Antiprogestins
Index