[Modification of C3 and C4 levels after the administration of conjugated estrogens plus medroxiprogesterone or raloxifene in postmenopausal women].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and raloxifene on serum levels of complement C3 and C4 fractions in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Twenty healthy postmenopausal women were studied. In all weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were documented. FSH and estradiol levels were measured. They were randomly divided into two groups, according to the treatment they received: group I, CEE 0.625 mg/day plus MPA 2.5 mg/day (n = 7); group II, raloxifene 60 mg/day (n = 13), both treatments were continuous. Serum levels of C3 and C4 complement fractions were measured by immunonephelometry at baseline and six months after start of treatment. Differences among groups of baseline and final C3 and C4 levels were measured with Student's t test for independent and paired samples, respectively.


RESULTS
There were no differences among groups in age, weight, height and body mass index, neither in C3 and C4 levels among baseline and final levels when comparing each group separately.


CONCLUSIONS
Complement may not intervene significantly in the atherosclerotic inflammatory process in women receiving CEE plus MPA or raloxifene.
División de Investigación en Salud, Hospital de Ginecoobstetricia Luis Castelazo Ayala, IMSS, México, DF. scarranzal@mexis.com
Sebastián
S
Carranza Lira
Ana Luz
AL
MacGregor Gooch
Aleida
A
Olivares
Sandra Luz
SL
González Legorreta
Nadia
N
Saldívar
Juan Carlos
JC
Martínez Chéquer
D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects*; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone