Effects of long-term transdermal administration of estradiol on serum lipids.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of three different dosages of transdermally administered 17beta-estradiol on serum lipoproteins in women who had recently experienced surgical menopause.


METHODS
We undertook a 2-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which 126 subjects were recruited and stratified by age, and 93 patients completed the protocol. Serum lipoproteins were assessed before initiation of treatment and after 12 and 24 months of therapy with 0.025, 0.05, or 0.1 mg of estradiol daily.


RESULTS
Total serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed dose-dependent decreases that reached statistical significance after 2 years of treatment with transdermally administered estradiol.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that transdermally administered 17beta-estradiol has a modest beneficial effect on serum lipoproteins, with decreased levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
S J
SJ
Ory
C S
CS
Field
R R
RR
Herrmann
A R
AR
Zinsmeister
B L
BL
Riggs
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008875:Middle Aged; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011884:Radius / Q000187:drug effects; D013131:Spine / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D004958:Estradiol