Raloxifene reduces procarboxypeptidase U, an antifibrinolytic marker. A 2-year randomized, placebo-controlled study in healthy early postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the long-term effects of two dosages of raloxifene with oral hormone therapy (HT; conjugated equine estrogens combined with medroxyprogesterone acetate) on procarboxypeptidase U.


METHODS
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-year study, 95 healthy, nonhysterectomized, early postmenopausal women received either daily raloxifene 60 mg (n = 24), raloxifene 150 mg (n = 23), HT (conjugated equine estrogens 0.625 mg + medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg, n = 24), or placebo (n = 24). At baseline and after 6, 12, and 24 months, fasting plasma procarboxypeptidase U concentrations were measured.


RESULTS
Six months of treatment with raloxifene 60 mg and raloxifene 150 mg were associated with significant decreases in plasma procarboxypeptidase U concentrations, which were sustained after 12 and 24 months. Raloxifene 60 mg: t = 0, 619 +/- 89 U/L (mean +/- SD); t = 6, 574 +/- 87 U/L; t = 12, 571 +/- 96 U/L; t = 24, 568 +/- 92 U/L; ANCOVA versus placebo, P = 0.026. Raloxifene 150 mg: t = 0, 608 +/- 67 U/L; t = 6, 580 +/- 73 U/L; t = 12, 578 +/- 70 U/L; t = 24, 562 +/- 61 U/L; ANCOVA versus placebo, P = 0.039. No significant changes were found in the HT group.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term treatment with raloxifene reduced procarboxypeptidase U plasma concentrations.
Vogelvang
Tatjana E
TE
project "Aging Women" and the Institute for Cardiovascular Research-Vrije Universiteit (ICaR-VU). Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vrije University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Leurs
Judith R
JR
van der Mooren
Marius J
MJ
Mijatovic
Velja
V
Hendriks
Dirk F
DF
Neele
Simone J M
SJ
Netelenbos
J Coen
JC
Kenemans
Peter
P
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D025901:Carboxypeptidase B2 / Q000097:blood*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D004967:Estrogens; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D025901:Carboxypeptidase B2