title: Effects of a low-dose oral estrogen only treatment on bone mineral density and quantitative ultrasonometry in postmenopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate an oral low-dose estrogen therapy on bone mineral density (BMD) and quantitative ultrasonometry (QUS) in osteopenic postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, open-label cohort study investigated 120 postmenopausal hysterectomized women. Forty-seven women had been treated with 0.3 mg conjugated equine estrogen daily (ET). Primary end point was the change in BMD at the spine after 24 months. Secondary end points were among other changes in QUS at the os calcis and phalanges.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After matching 42 participants in the ET group, 42 controls were analyzed. The change in BMD differed significantly after 24 months (p = 0.019). Women on ET showed significant increase of spine and hip Z-score, whereas controls showed significant decreases in spine and total hip BMD. In QUS of the os calcis and the phalanges, a number of variables showed a significant improvements with ET.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results comprised a positive effect of an oral low-dose estrogen therapy on BMD. Limitations of the study are the small sample size and the open-label, non-randomized cohort study design. The findings are in accordance to the common literature and support the use of ET in the primary prevention of postmenopausal bone loss.
authors: Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Giessen and Marburg, Marburg, Germany. ziller@med.uni-marburg.de
authors: May
authors: M
authors: Ziller
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Herwig
authors: Volker
authors: V
authors: Ziller
authors: Annette
authors: A
authors: Kauka
authors: Karel
authors: K
authors: Kostev
authors: Peyman
authors: P
authors: Hadji
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)