Tamoxifen and partial oestrogen agonism in postmenopausal women.
The effect of tamoxifen on the vaginal mucosa and on serum oestrone, oestradiol and gonadotrophin concentrations was investigated in a group of nine postmenopausal women with non-metastatic breast cancer. Compared with fit age-matched controls, the vaginal pH in the tamoxifen-treated group was significantly lower and was comparable to levels in fertile women. Two thirds of tamoxifen-treated women had well oestrogenized vaginal smears compared with none in the control group. Follicle-stimulating hormone was significantly reduced, whilst oestrone and oestradiol levels remained unchanged. We conclude, therefore, that tamoxifen has oestrogen-agonistic properties particularly evident in postmenopausal women, even though it is primarily an antioestrogenic drug.
Miodrag
A
A
Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Leicester General Hospital.
Ekelund
P
P
Burton
R
R
Castleden
C M
CM
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood*; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects
D004967:Estrogens; D013629:Tamoxifen; D004970:Estrone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone