Effects of transdermal 17 beta-oestradiol combined with oral progestogen on lipids and lipoproteins in hypercholesterolaemic postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of transdermal 17 beta-oestradiol with oral progestogen on the plasma levels of lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in hypercholesterolaemic postmenopausal women.


METHODS
During 6 months of replacement therapy with transdermal 17 beta-oestradiol combined with oral progestogen, plasma lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins after 3 and 6 months were measured and compared with pretreatment values by Student's t-test.


METHODS
From January 1992 until September 1992 patients were diagnosed and treated in an out-patient clinic of the Department of Endocrinology Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education, Warsaw.


METHODS
The patients studied were 11 non-obese postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolaemia based on the World Health Organization criteria.


METHODS
Venous blood samples were obtained before and 3 and 6 months after the beginning of cyclic replacement therapy with transdermal 17 beta-oestradiol (E2 100 micrograms day-1 combined with oral chlormadinone acetate (2 mg day-1 for 7 days in each cycle).


METHODS
The antiatherogenic effect of transdermal oestrogen replacement therapy exerted by increased levels of high-density lipoprotein subfraction 2 cholesterol (HDL2-C) leading to the decrease of the total cholesterol level was anticipated.


RESULTS
After 6 months of the treatment the concentrations of HDL2 cholesterol (HDL2-C) increased from 0.45 +/- 0.07 mmol l-1 to 0.73 +/- 0.03 mol l-1 (P < 0.05) but the levels of HDL3 cholesterol (HDL3-C) decreased from 1.15 +/- 0.06 mmol l-1 to 0.89 +/- 0.07 mmol l-1 (P < 0.05). The concentrations of total cholesterol decreased from 6.9 +/- 0.13 mmol l-1 to 6.2 +/- 0.2 mmol l-1 (P < 0.05). No changes were observed in the plasma levels of total triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, VLDL triglycerides, apolipoproteins A-I and B.


CONCLUSIONS
In hypercholesterolaemic postmenopausal women, transdermally administered 17 beta-oestradiol 100 micrograms daily in combination with oral chlormadinone acetate has a beneficial effect through raising the level of the antiatherogenic HDL2-C subfraction and decreasing the level of total cholesterol.
Słowińska-Srzednicka
J
J
Department of Endocrinology, Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland.
Zgliczyński
S
S
Chotkowska
E
E
Srzednicki
M
M
Stopińska-Głuszak
U
U
Jeske
W
W
Brzezińska
A
A
Zgliczyński
W
W
Sadowski
Z
Z
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002715:Chlormadinone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*
D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D002715:Chlormadinone Acetate; D004958:Estradiol