Transdermal estradiol and lipid profile: effects on a specific group of Brazilian postmenopausal women.
BACKGROUND
In postmenopausal women, significant changes occur that can induce cardiovascular diseases, such as atherogenic lipid profile, due to an increase in total cholesterol and LDL levels, and a decrease in HDL cholesterol levels. The hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can prevent these changes in lipid profile.


OBJECTIVE
Verify the effects of HRT consisting of transdermal estradiol gel associated with medroxyprogesterone acetate on the lipid profile and biochemical parameters in Brazilian postmenopausal women.


METHODS
This study is an open prospective longitudinal study, in which thirty postmenopausal women received transdermal estradiol gel (1 mg/day) continuously combined with oral medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) (5 mg/day) for 12 days/month. The following parameters were determined: total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gama glutamyl transferase (GGT) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).


RESULTS
The parameters of the lipid profile did not show a significant decrease, while the levels of GGT and FSH had a statistically significant decrease.


CONCLUSIONS
the treatment with transdermal estradiol gel did not have a significant impact on the lipid profile, thus not resulting in a beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease markers, suggesting that the dose, administration route and the time of treatment were important for these results. Moreover, the treatment using small dose and the transdermal administration route also had a significant hepatic effect in this population. Therefore, this treatment might provide interesting effects on the lipid profile in Brazilian postmenopausal women.
Callejon
Daniel R
DR
Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Rios
Danyelle Romana A
DR
Franceschini
Sílvio A
SA
Toloi
Maria Regina T
MR
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D004967:Estrogens; D005782:Gels; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase