title: Effect of transdermal hormone therapy on platelet haemostasis in menopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the undeniably positive effect on the quality of life of menopausal women, menopausal hormone therapy (HT) also has negative side-effects, which include, among others, thromboembolic complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of a popular type of this therapy - transdermal HT on platelet hemostasis, which plays a significant role in intravascular coagulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 92 postmenopausal women: 1) group G1 (n=30), treated with transdermal HT (17β-estradiol 50 μg/day plus NETA 170 μg/day); 2) group G2 (n=31), treated with the above transdermal HT and low dosage of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA); 3) control group P (n=31). All the women qualified for the study had two or more risk factors for arterial thrombosis, such as: smoking, hypertension, visceral obesity, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, elevated levels of PAI-1, and increased fibrinogen, increased activity of coagulation factor VII.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After three months of therapy, in the G1 group there was a decrease in platelet count (p = 0.004) and a decrease in GP IIb/IIIa - a platelet receptor for fibrinogen (p = 0.022). In the G2 group, no changes in the tested parameters were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1) Transdermal HT in the form of combined, estrogen-progestogen patches favourably modifies platelets haemostasis, reversing the adverse effects that occur after menopause. 2) The use of low ASA doses as a thromboprophylaxis in short-term transdermal HT is not necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stachowiak
authors.affiliation: Nicolaus Copernicus Memorial Hospital, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pertyński
authors.affiliation: Independent Consultant, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pertyńska-Marczewska
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D011044:Poland
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D001241:Aspirin; D009640:Norethindrone