Effect of daily hormone therapy and alendronate use on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of daily oral and transdermal hormone therapy alone or in combination with alendronate on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Comparative prospective clinical study.


METHODS
Outpatient clinic of a training and research hospital.


METHODS
One hundred seventy-three consecutive postmenopausal women with no previous hormone therapy and a bone mineral density T score <-1 SD were randomly enrolled.


METHODS
Oral conjugated estrogen, alone or with alendronate, or transdermal estrogen, alone or with alendronate, given for 1 year. All patients also received medroxyprogesterone acetate and calcium.


METHODS
Bone density measurement at L2 to 4 region by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.


RESULTS
At the end of 1 year, significant increase in bone density measurements were seen in all groups. Oral conjugated estrogen and transdermal estrogen have the same effect on bone mineral density loss. Hormone therapy alone stabilized the bone mineral density loss. Hormone therapy together with alendronate resulted in better values in all groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Hormone therapy is adequate in osteopenic women. However, hormone therapy plus alendronate is advantageous in women with considerable bone mineral density loss.
Davas
Inci
I
Second Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, Sişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Altintas
Aysun
A
Yoldemir
Tevfik
T
Varolan
Ahmet
A
Yazgan
Ali
A
Baksu
Basak
B
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D019386:Alendronate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D017698:Postmenopause; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000008:administration & dosage
D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D002118:Calcium; D019386:Alendronate