title: Effects of tibolone on lipoprotein(a) and HDL subfractions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of tibolone, a synthetic steroid used to alleviate climacteric symptoms and prevent osteoporosis, on lipoprotein metabolism, with particular reference to lipoprotein(a) levels and HDL subfraction profiles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty nine postmenopausal women were treated with tibolone (Livial) 2.5 mg/day for 6 months and fasting serum lipoprotein levels were estimated at 0, 2, 4 and 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lipoprotein(a) levels were reduced significantly over the 6 months from a median level of 245 (range < 60-780) mg/l to 152 (range < 60-530) mg/l, a reduction of 39% in the median level. A decrease was observed in approximately two thirds of the women. Reductions were noted in all 6 subjects whose pretreatment levels were high, although concentrations remained at a level associated with increased risk in all but one. There were significant decreases in triglycerides and VLDL cholesterol and no significant change in LDL cholesterol. There was a significant reduction of 18% in HDL cholesterol and a 26% reduction in the HDL2-HDL3 ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduction in lipoprotein(a) levels may have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk, which could go some way towards balancing the potentially adverse effect on the cardiovascular system caused by the reduction in HDL cholesterol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Farish
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Rolton
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spowart
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D002979:Climacteric / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D009652:Norpregnenes; D014280:Triglycerides; C027385:tibolone