The effects of hormone replacement therapy on antithrombin III and protein C levels in menopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if menopausal women taking estrogen with and without progestin are at increased risk for thrombotic disease as evidenced by decreased levels of antithrombin III and protein C.


METHODS
A case controlled study.


METHODS
General community in southeastern New Hampshire.


METHODS
One hundred seventy-one healthy women aged 38 to 65 years. Women were defined as premenopausal if follicle stimulating hormone levels were < 40 mIU/ml and menopausal if follicle stimulating hormone levels were > 40 mIU/ml. Menopausal women were subdivided according to hormone replacement therapy status; women not taking estrogen or progestin, and women taking estrogen with and without progestin for at least 1 year.


METHODS
Significant differences in antithrombin III and protein C levels.


RESULTS
Premenopausal women had significantly less antithrombin III than menopausal women not taking hormone replacement therapy. Premenopausal women had significantly less protein C than menopausal women taking estrogen for at least 1 year with and without progestin.


CONCLUSIONS
Estrogen taken for at least 1 year with and without progestin by menopausal women will not increase the risk of thrombotic disease by lowering the levels of antithrombin III or protein C. On the contrary, estrogen is associated with an increase in circulating levels of protein C in menopausal women, and could create a protective effect not seen in premenopausal women or menopausal women not taking estrogen therapy.
Lacroix
K A
KA
University of New Hampshire at Manchester, 03102, USA.
Bean
C
C
Reilly
R
R
Curran-Celentano
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000187:drug effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011372:Progestins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011486:Protein C / Q000187:drug effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000139:chemically induced