Cause of amenorrhea after treatment with tripterygium wilfordii F

: Fourteen female patients with rheumatoid arthritis who developed amenorrhea after treatment with T2 were investigated endocrinologically. FSH and LH levels began to rise after 2-3 mon and reached menopausal levels at 4-5 mon of treatment. E2 levels began to drop after 3-4 mon and reached very low levels at 5 mon of treatment. This indicates that the site of action of T2 is the ovary. The factors effecting amenorrhea may be related to dosage and the status of reproductive function. Cytotoxicity might be the mechanism of action of T2. In 9 cases (64.3%), menses returned after discontinuing treatment for 7 mon. Amenorrhea due to T2 is reversible when the reproductive functions are in the active stage.