Comparison of two forms of continuous combined hormone replacement therapy with respect to metabolic effects.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the metabolic effects of two frequently used continuous hormone replacement therapies.


METHODS
Two hundred and forty-six menopausal women, aged between 41 and 57 years were enrolled in the present study. They were randomized to receive either estrogen + 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (CEE/MPA) or 1 mg 17 <beta> estradiol + 0.5 mg norethindrone acetate (E2/NETA). Women in group I (n = 139) and group II (n = 107) were followed up for 1 year and compared with respect to total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, VLDL, weight gain during this period.


RESULTS
The basal and 12th month weight of the patients of two groups were not statistically different (P = 0.57 and P = 0.17, respectively, in the groups I and II). No changes were detected in the levels of triglycerides, HDL and VLDL, while total cholesterol (P = 0.01) and LDL (P = 0.003) levels significantly decreased in the CEE/MPA group. In group 2, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels showed no significant change, however, levels of HDL cholesterol (P = 0.001) increased and LDL (P = 0.001) and VLDL cholesterol (P = 0.006) decreased significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of E2/NETA regimen has better results on lipid profile when compared to CEE/MPA regimen. No weight gain is recorded in E2/NETA group.
Tugrul
Semih
S
Zeynep Kamil Women and Children's Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. astugrul@superonline.com
Yildirim
Gazi
G
Pekin
Oya
O
Uslu
Hüsamettin
H
Kutlu
Tayfun
T
Eren
Sadiye
S
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004958:Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D004967:Estrogens; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D004958:Estradiol; D002784:Cholesterol; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D009640:Norethindrone