title: Mammographic breast density, hormones, and growth factors during continuous combined hormone therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect on mammographic breast density of two different continuous combined regimens for hormone therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postmenopausal women without any previous history of breast disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  The women received either estradiol valerate/dienogest or estradiol/norethisterone acetate. Mammograms and venous blood samples were obtained at baseline and after 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Change in mammographic breast density. Correlations with levels of hormones, growth factors, and binding proteins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increase in mammographic density was recorded in approximately 50% of the women, and there were no differences between treatments. Increased density showed a positive correlation with estradiol, estrone, and sex hormone-binding globulin and showed a negative association to free T. Among hormonal factors, levels of free T were the most important for predicting increased density.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuous combined hormone therapy with different progestogens has a marked impact on the breast.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. peter.conner@ks.se
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conner
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Svane
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azavedo
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Söderqvist
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Carlström
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gräser
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: von Schoultz
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000097:blood*; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D009277:Nandrolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D006728:Hormones; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone; C023635:dienogest; D004958:Estradiol; D009277:Nandrolone; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D009640:Norethindrone