Hormone replacement therapy increases trabecular and cortical bone density in osteoporotic women.
Twenty five postmenopausal Caucasian women with established osteoporosis or severe osteopenia were treated with continuous combined estrogen/progesterone (2 mg 17 beta estradiol and 5 mg medroxiprogesterone) and 1000 mg of calcium daily. The mean age of the patients was 57 +/- 6 years (range 44 to 69 years), and the average postmenopausal interval was of 10.7 +/- 4.2 years. The bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and proximal femur was determined using DXA densitometer at baseline, 12 and 24 months of treatment. Serum and urine measurements were done at baseline and 12 months. After 24 months of treatment bone mineral density increased at the trochanter 10.2% p < 0.001, lumbar spine 9.6% p < 0.001, Ward's triangle 8.6% p < 0.005 and femoral neck 5.7% p < 0.001 in comparison to basal levels. In the first year of treatment serum alkaline phosphatase and urinary hydroxiproline diminished significantly in comparison to basal levels (p < 0.001, for both). In conclusion, this study indicates that continuous combined estrogen progesterone therapy decreases bone turnover and increases BMD of the spine, femoral neck and trochanter in established osteoporosis.
Bagur
A
A
Departamento de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Wittich
A
A
Ghiringhelli
G
G
Vega
E
E
Mautalen
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003720:Densitometry; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur; D006801:Humans; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013131:Spine
D004958:Estradiol; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone