Histological changes induced by tibolone and estrogen/glucocorticoid on aging skin.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the oral effects of tibolone and mestranol plus paramethasone on the skin of postmenopausal women. A second purpose was to determine endometrial thickness with transvaginal ultrasound.


METHODS
This randomized study was carried out in 39 healthy postmenopausal women. Skin biopsies were obtained from the thigh area by a single punch, before and after treatment, and the sections were evaluated. Current characteristics of both groups were measured at follow-up.


RESULTS
No gross differences were observed in size, distribution or imaging of collagen, elastic or reticular fibers. Statistically significant changes were found in the papillar dermis thickness. There were no statistically significant differences in the sonographic measurements.


CONCLUSIONS
The estrogen/glucocorticoid combination provides a way to evaluate in parallel the cellular metabolism effects on the irreversible aging process. The current results encourage widening these observations of the possible advantage of this combination, in order to alleviate the cellular degenerative process.
Kalogirou
D
D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Areteion Hospital, Greece.
Aroni
K
K
Kalogirou
O
O
Antoniou
G
G
Botsis
D
D
Kontoravdis
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D045166:Estradiol Congeners / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008656:Mestranol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010248:Paramethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017698:Postmenopause; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D045166:Estradiol Congeners; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009652:Norpregnenes; D008656:Mestranol; C027385:tibolone; D010248:Paramethasone