Steroid profiling by mass spectrometry in DexFem subjects

This dataset is mass spectrometry data from LC-MS/MS analysis of plasma and endometrial tissue from dexamethasone and untreated DexFem subjects. We previously published the DexFEM trial which showed in women with heavy menstrual
bleeding oral dexamethasone reduces menstrual blood loss. Here, we report pharmacodynamic
analysis exploring the likely mechanism for this effect. We studied oral dosing with
dexamethasone during the mid-luteal phase of two menstrual cycles (1.5 mg daily, 5 days) in
5 women with HMB (6 recruited aged 41-50 years, 1 withdrew before treatment). Steroid
hormones were profiled in serum and endometrium by liquid chromatography tandem mass
spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). We found that following oral dosing, dexamethasone reached the
endometrium, and that compared to preceding control cycle, cortisol (active), cortisone
(inactive), and intermediate 11-deoxycortisol, were reduced in all samples assessed, both
endometrial (n=4) and serum (n=5). Concentrations of androgens, androstenendione and
testosterone, were reduced in serum but not in all tissue samples. This proof-of-concept
pharmacodynamic study supports the inference that dexamethasone is effective in HMB by
altering endometrial glucocorticoid concentrations.