Influence of different HRT regimens on mammographic density.
OBJECTIVE
A prospective, randomized, open-label study was conducted to evaluate effects on mammographic density in postmenopausal and late perimenopausal women receiving continuous combined or sequential combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT).


METHODS
The subjects were randomized to treatment with low-dose continuous combined HRT containing 1 mg 17beta-estradiol plus 0.5 mg norethisterone acetate (Activelle) or a sequential combined HRT regimen consisting of 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogens for 28 days plus 5 mg medrogestone for 14 days (Presomen). Mammograms were obtained at baseline and after 9 cycles (each 28 days) of treatment.


RESULTS
The majority of women (approximately two-thirds in each treatment group) had no changes in mammographic breast density between baseline and the final study visit. There were no marked differences between treatment groups. Approximately 20% of women in both groups had a slight increase in mammographic density. Only 10-14% of women in both groups had a pronounced increase in mammographic density. The analyses of the degree of change showed no remarkable differences between treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the increase in mammographic density with a low-dose continuous combined HRT regimen is no greater than that with a sequential combined HRT regimen. The type of progestogen does not have an impact on the extent of mammographic density changes.
Junkermann
Hans
H
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Universitäts-Frauenklinik, Abteilung für Gynäkologische Radiologie, Heidelberg, Germany. hansjunkermann@aol.com
von Holst
Thomas
T
Lang
Eva
E
Rakov
Viatcheslav
V
D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008524:Medrogestone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D047648:Perimenopause; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D004967:Estrogens; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D008524:Medrogestone; D004958:Estradiol; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D009640:Norethindrone