title: A comparison of effects of sequential transdermal administration versus oral administration of estradiol plus norethisterone acetate on serum NO levels in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of sequential transdermal administration versus oral administration of estradiol plus NETA on serum nitric oxide (NO) levels in postmenopausal women (PMW).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty postmenopausal subjects without any prior hormone replacement therapy (HRT) usage were enrolled in this study. All participants were healthy, ambulatory, non-smoker and had similar life styles with dietary habits. HRT was given to participants according to desired HRT administration, in group A (n=50); oral estradiol hemi-hydrate (2 mg)/norethisterone acetate (1 mg), and in group B (n=30); transdermal combined patch comprising estradiol (0.05 mg) alone and estradiol (0.05 mg)/norethisterone acetate (0.25 mg), were given sequential for 12 months. Serum NO levels were studied using Total Oxide Assay Kit (Assay Designs, Inc.) according to manufacturer's instructions prior to and after 12 months from the HRT treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum NO levels prior to the HRT in groups A and B was 0.48+/-0.46 (range, 0.27-0.76 nmol/mL) nmol/mL and 0.47+/-0.48 nmol/mL (range, 0.29-0.693 nmol/mL) (p>0.05). The mean serum NO levels after the HRT in groups A and B was 0.53+/-0.33 nmol/mL (range, 0.29-2.10 nmol/mL) and 2.91+/-0.50 nmol/mL (range, 2.10-3.67 nmol/mL) (p<0.05). A significant difference was found between mean serum NO levels prior to and after the treatment in group B (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transdermal sequential combined HRT with estradiol hemi-hydrate/NETA was found to be superior to sequential combined oral HRT in increasing serum NO levels.
authors.affiliation: Menopause Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kurtay
authors.forename: Batuhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozmen
authors.forename: Imge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Erguder
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D004958:Estradiol; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D009640:Norethindrone