title: Cytologic aspects of the nasal respiratory epithelium in postmenopausal women treated with hormone therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of hormone therapy (HT) on nasal respiratory epithelium in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective open clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient menopausal clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred three healthy postmenopausal women, of whom 55 treated with HT, and 48 untreated women (controls).
  
  
  METHODS
  Different regimens of HT by patch, gel, or oral administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytologic changes of nasal, middle and inferior turbinate cells compared with vaginal cytologic findings by using the maturation index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hematoxylin-eosin staining for the maturation index confirmed similar trophic cytologic aspects between the nasal respiratory epithelium and vaginal smears in HT-treated women and controls. Women treated with sequential HT or estrogen therapy (ET) showed better trophic characteristics in the nasal cytological samples compared with women treated with continuous combined HT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Along with vaginal cells the nasal respiratory epithelium is an estrogen target. The activity of HT in the nasal respiratory epithelium may depend on the type of hormone regimen used.
authors.affiliation: Research Group for Sexology, Department of Microbiological Science and Gynecological Science, School of Medicine University of Catania, Italy. scaruso@mbox.unict.it
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roccasalva
authors.forename: Enza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Fazio
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sapienza
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agnello
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ficarra
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Mari
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serra
mesh_terms: D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D017698:Postmenopause; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate