Assessment of DNA damage in postmenopausal women under hormone replacement therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possible DNA damage in peripheral blood leukocytes of postmenopausal women under different hormone replacement therapies (HRT), comet assay, a standard method for assessing genotoxicity has been used.


METHODS
46 women were categorized in three groups-Group A: 15 surgical menopausal women who underwent surgery for benign conditions, receiving conjugated equine estrogen, 0.625 mg/day (CEE) for 2.3 +/- 1.5 years, Group B: 16 spontaneous menopausal women receiving conjugated equine estrogen, 0.625 mg/day plus medroxyprogesteron acetate, 5mg/day (CEE + MPA) for 2.4 +/- 1.0 years and Group C: 15 spontaneous menopausal women receiving tibolone, 2.5mg/day for 2.4 +/- 1.3 years. Control group consisted of 15 spontaneous menopausal women who never had HRT.


RESULTS
Significant differences in terms of DNA damage were observed between Group A and B with controls as mean total comet scores 23.93 +/- 5.84, 19.44 +/- 6.19 and 10.07 +/- 2.40, but no significance (P > 0.05) were detected between Group C and controls as mean total comet scores 12.07 +/- 3.65 and 10.07 +/- 2.40, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced DNA damage were observed with tibolone compared to CEE or CEE + MPA therapy. Studies of this approach are needed.
Ozcagli
Eren
E
Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Hipodrom, 06330 Ankara, Turkey. eren@gazi.edu.tr
Sardas
Semra
S
Biri
Aydan
A
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020552:Comet Assay; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D004967:Estrogens; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D009652:Norpregnenes; D004247:DNA; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; C027385:tibolone