title: Normalization of serum luteinizing hormone levels in women with 46,XX spontaneous primary ovarian insufficiency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the proportion of women with primary ovarian insufficiency who achieve normal serum LH levels on transdermal E(2) therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical research center at a national US health research facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with spontaneous primary ovarian insufficiency (n = 137) and 70 regularly menstruating control women (n = 70).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood sampled from controls in the midfollicular phase and from patients while they were off E(2) for 2 weeks, then again 3 months later during the E(2)-only phase of hormone therapy (E(2) patch [100 microg/d] and oral medroxyprogesterone acetate [10 mg for 12 d/mo]).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum LH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While on transdermal E(2) therapy, significantly more women (51.1%, 70/137; 95% confidence interval, 42%, 60%) had serum LH levels in the normal range (5/137, 3.9% at baseline). Mean (SD) serum E(2) level significantly increased on therapy to 95.4 (84.9) pg/mL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A regimen of 100 microg/d of transdermal E(2) therapy achieves normal serum LH levels in approximately one half of women with spontaneous primary ovarian insufficiency. Theoretically, by avoiding inappropriate luteinization, physiologic E(2) therapy may improve follicle function in these women. Controlled studies to assess the effect of transdermal E(2) therapy on follicle function in these women are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Integrative Reproductive Medicine Unit, Reproductive Biology and Medicine Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1103, USA.
authors.forename: Vaishali B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Popat
authors.forename: Vien H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Vanderhoof
authors.forename: Karim A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Calis
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Troendle
authors.forename: Lawrence M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008594:Menopause, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone