Comparison of the difference in histopathology and cell cycle kinetics among the postmenopausal endometrium treated with different progestins in sequential-combined hormone replacement therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the difference in histopathology and cell cycle kinetics in the menopausal endometrium treated with sequential-combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using different types and doses of progestins.


METHODS
A randomized, double-blind, 1-year study was conducted. In a menopause clinic of a university hospital, 241 postmenopausal women using HRT were included for the study of histopathology and cell cycle analysis. Conjugated equine estrogens, 0.625mg/day, were administered for 25 days (days 1-25) of each month, and the following were also administered for 14 days (days 12-25): in group A ( n= 102), medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), 5 mg/day; in group B ( n= 66), MPA, 10mg/day; and in group C ( n= 73), dydrogesterone, 20mg/day. Endometrial sampling was performed after at least 10 months of treatment. Fifty-two premenopausal women were also enrolled for the comparative studies (group Y). The S-G2-M fractions in the cell cycle were used as the marker of proliferation.


RESULTS
Most menopausal endometria were normal regardless of the regimens of HRT. Endometrial hyperplasia was only found in two cases (both in group A). The S-G2-M fractions of the endometrial cells in all three menopausal groups showed no statistically significant difference. It appeared that S-G2-M fractions increased from normal postmenopausal to normal premenopausal endometria to postmenopausal hyperplasia to premenopausal hyperplasia. The S-G2-M fractions of the normal menopausal endometrial cells were lower than those of the premenopausal controls either in normal or in hyperplastic categories.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that there is no difference between the effect of MPA and dydrogesterone used in sequential-combined HRT based on the cycle kinetics of the menopausal endometrium.
Chang
Ting-Chen
TC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chen
Ming
M
Lien
Yih-Ron
YR
Chen
Reuy-Jien
RJ
Chow
Song-Nan
SN
D000368:Aged; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004394:Dydrogesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D004394:Dydrogesterone; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate