Serum follicle-stimulating hormone level is a predictor of bone mineral density in patients with hormone replacement therapy.
METHODS
A retrospective study regarding the relationship between serum hormonal levels and bone mineral density (BMD) was performed in 125 women with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Serum estradiol (E(2)), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and BMD were evaluated before and at 12 and 24 months of HRT.


RESULTS
There was a significant increase in E(2) and decrease in FSH at both 12 (E(2), 39.3+/-76.6 pg/ml to 71.0+/-67.9 pg/ml; FSH, 67.9+/-36.3 mIU/ml to 47.9+/-29.0 mIU/ml) and 24 months (E(2), 68.3+/-54.5 pg/ml; FSH, 45.3+/-24.4 mIU/ml). LH level was high at baseline (26.5+/-16.1 mIU/ml) and decreased at 12 months (22.9+/-14.0 mIU/ml). On the contrary, it increased from 12 to 24 months (27.4+/-14.9 mIU/ml). In the lumbar spine BMD, a significant rise was seen only in the first 12 months (0.933+/-0.157 g/cm(2) to 0.938+/-0.152 g/cm(2)). When percentage change was analyzed, a significant positive correlation was found between E(2) and BMD and a negative correlation between gonadotropin levels and BMD.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate that serum gonadotropin levels, especially FSH, are a good marker to predict BMD in women with HRT.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone