Comparison of transdermal and oral estrogen-progestin replacement therapy: effects on serum lipids and lipoproteins.
OBJECTIVE
We attempted to ascertain whether transdermal postmenopausal estrogen-progestin therapy has the typical effects of oral therapy on serum lipoprotein risk markers for cardiovascular disease.


METHODS
Sixty-one postmenopausal women were randomized to receive either transdermal continuous 17 beta-estradiol, 0.05 mg/day, with transdermal cyclic norethindrone acetate, 0.25 mg/day, or oral continuous conjugated equine estrogens, 0.625 mg/day, with oral cyclic dl-norgestrel, 0.15 mg/day. Twenty-nine untreated subjects served as controls. Lipoprotein profiles at 3 and 6 months were compared with baseline values by means of analysis of variance.


RESULTS
In the estrogen-alone phase both therapies reduced serum levels of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; high-density lipoproteins were largely unchanged. Oral therapy increased triglycerides whereas this lipid fell with transdermal therapy. In the combined phase of the cycle both therapies reduced triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.


CONCLUSIONS
Transdermal and oral therapies had similar effects on lipoprotein cholesterol but different effects on triglycerides.
Crook
D
D
Institute for Metabolic Research, St John's Wood, London, England.
Cust
M P
MP
Gangar
K F
KF
Worthington
M
M
Hillard
T C
TC
Stevenson
J C
JC
Whitehead
M I
MI
Wynn
V
V
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D011372:Progestins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001053:Apolipoproteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D004967:Estrogens; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D011372:Progestins; D014280:Triglycerides; D004958:Estradiol