Increase in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in menopausal women treated with vaginal estrogen cream.
In a group of 20 menopausal women 45-78 years old (mean age 62.4), with typical symptoms such as dryness of the vagina, urinary disturbances, "mental" symptoms, or vasomotor disturbances, treated with topical vaginal estrogen cream, we examined the glucose tolerance, as expressed by Gycohemoglobin (HbA1c) and GTT. Estrogen, well absorbed by the vaginal epithelium gives rise to the HbA1c from a mean of 6.4% to 14.78% (P less than 0.0001). The GTT too shows a glucose intolerance, but never a frank diabetic picture. In four cases in which the cardinal symptoms were vasomotor disturbances (hot flushes, profuse sweating) the addition of oral clonidine hydrochlorate (Clonirit) to the vaginal estrogen cream, leads to the relief of symptoms. The Glycohemoglobin test is fast, inexpensive and easy to perform in every laboratory, giving the possibility of discovering an unknown or borderline diabetes.
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies
D004967:Estrogens; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies