The values of urinary NTx in postmenopausal women undergoing HRT; the role of additional alendronate therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the changes in levels of urinary NTx at the end of the 6th month of oral and transdermal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the effects of additional alendronate therapy for osteoporotic women.


METHODS
Of 66 postmenopausal women 23 were treated with oral estradiol+norethisterone acetate (E+P), and 22 were treated with transdermal estradiol+norethisterone acetate. The third group consisted of 21 women with osteoporosis (bone mineral density < 100 mg/cm(3)) and treated with oral E+P plus alendronate 10 mg/day.


RESULTS
Significant decreases of urinary NTx levels were seen after HRT in all study groups (P < 0.05). But the decline of NTx levels was not different between the oral and transdermal HRT groups (P > 0.05). There was no additional decrease in the levels of NTx with alendronate therapy (P > 0.05) but NTx excretion diminished more in patients with high baseline levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The decline of NTx at the end of the 6th month of HRT reflects the decrease of bone resorption and it is not related to the route of administration.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, 35340 Inciralti, Izmir, Turkey.
Cemal
C
Posaci
Sabahattin
S
Altunyurt
Huray
H
Islekel
Ugur
U
Saygili
Emel
E
Altekin
Ata
A
Onvural
Banu
B
Onvural
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D019386:Alendronate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015519:Bone Density; D003094:Collagen / Q000652:urine*; D024042:Collagen Type I; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000652:urine; D010455:Peptides / Q000652:urine*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000652:urine*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D024042:Collagen Type I; D010455:Peptides; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D004958:Estradiol; D003094:Collagen; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D009640:Norethindrone; D019386:Alendronate