Effects of oestradiol valerate plus two different progestogens on serum lipids during post-menopausal replacement therapy

A heartfelt message, estrogen replacement therapy: use it or lose it

The issue of cardiovascular and cognitive health in women is complex. During the premenopausal phase of life, women have healthy blood pressure levels that are lower than those of age-matched men, and they have less cardiovascular disease. However, in the postmenopausal stage of life, blood pressure in women increases, and they are increasingly susceptible to cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairments, and dementia, exceeding the incidence in men. The major difference between pre- and postmenopausal women is the loss of estrogen. Thus, it seemed logical that postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy, with or without progestin, generally referred to as menopausal hormone treatment (MHT), would prevent these adverse sequelae. However, despite initially promising results, a major randomized clinical trial refuted the benefits of MHT, leading to its falling from favor. However, reappraisal of this study in the framework of a "critical window," or "timing hypothesis," has changed our perspective on the benefit-to-risk ratio of MHT, and this review discusses the historical, current, and future approaches to MHT.

Effects of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy on lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein (a) concentrations: analysis of studies published from 1974-2000

OBJECTIVE

To establish reference estimates of the effects of different hormone replacement therapy (HRT) regimens on lipid and lipoprotein levels.

DESIGN

Review and pooled analysis of prospective studies published up until the year 2000.

SETTING

Clinical trials centers, hospitals, menopause clinics.

PATIENT(S)

Healthy postmenopausal women.

INTERVENTION(S)

Estrogen alone, estrogen plus progestogen, tibolone, or raloxifene in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Serum high- and low-density lipoprotein (HDL and LDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoprotein (a).

RESULT(S)

Two-hundred forty-eight studies provided information on the effects of 42 different HRT regimens. All estrogen alone regimens raised HDL cholesterol and lowered LDL and total cholesterol. Oral estrogens raised triglycerides. Transdermal estradiol 17-beta lowered triglycerides. Progestogens had little effect on estrogen-induced reductions in LDL and total cholesterol. Estrogen-induced increases in HDL and triglycerides were opposed according to type of progestogen, in the order from least to greatest effect: dydrogesterone and medrogestone, progesterone, cyproterone acetate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, transdermal norethindrone acetate, norgestrel, and oral norethindrone acetate. Tibolone decreased HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Raloxifene reduced LDL cholesterol levels. In 41 studies of 20 different formulations, HRT generally lowered lipoprotein (a).

CONCLUSION(S)

Route of estrogen administration and type of progestogen determined differential effects of HRT on lipid and lipoprotein levels. Future work will focus on the interpretation of the clinical significance of these changes.

The role of megestrol acetate as an alternative to conventional hormone replacement therapy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of megestrol acetate on menopausal symptoms, lipid metabolism, bone metabolism and coagulation.

METHODS

In a prospective observational study, 71 postmenopausal women, for whom conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was unsuitable, were treated with megestrol acetate 40 mg per day. At 0, 3, 6 and 12 months, fasting lipoproteins, bone biochemistry and thrombophilia profiles were measured and symptom score cards (Greene climacteric scale) completed. Bone mineral density measurement was performed at 0 and 12 months.

RESULTS

Forty-one women completed the study. Treatment produced significant decreases in psychological (p < 0.001), vasomotor (p < 0.001) and somatic (p < 0.01) symptoms. There were significant reductions in triglycerides (p < 0.001), total cholesterol (p < 0.001), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) (p < 0.05), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (p < 0.001), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (p < 0.001) and lipoprotein(a) (p < 0.001). Levels of protein C were reduced (p < 0.05) and fibrinogen increased (p < 0.05). Protein S, plasminogen and antithrombin III levels showed an upward trend, which did not reach statistical significance. Biochemical markers of bone turnover did not change, apart from a significant decrease in alkaline phosphatase. Spinal bone density decreased significantly after 12 months, while femoral neck density remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

Megestrol acetate controls menopausal symptoms, has equivocal effects on cardiovascular risk markers and does not increase bone density. It is useful where estrogen is contraindicated.

The effects of different doses of medroxyprogesterone acetate on serum lipids, lipoprotein levels and atherogenic index in the menopausal period

The purpose of our study was to make a contribution to research in determining the least harmful progestogen dose for women who have not had their uterus removed. The study was an open comparative trial. The patients were consecutively assigned to two groups. The first group (n = 19) were given 0.625-mg conjugated equine estrogen plus 5-mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), and the second (n = 18) 0.625-mg conjugated equine estrogen plus 2.5-mg MPA. Serum total cholesterol (T-cholesterol), triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels plus LDL-C/HDL-C values (atherogenic index) were measured before the study and again after 6 and 12 months. These values were compared with ANOVA and postANOVA tests (Scheffe) within the groups and with unpaired t-test between the two groups. The triglyceride serum levels in the first group were decreased in the 12th month compared to baseline levels. In addition, LDL-C/HDL-C values were significantly decreased in the 6th month, but these values slightly increased in the following 6 months. In the second group, T-cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C and atherogenic index were decreased in the 12th month when compared to baseline levels within the groups. This decrease was statistically significant (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). Hormone replacement therapy with continuous 0.625-mg conjugated equine estrogen and 2.5-mg MPA had a better effect on lipid profiles than 0.625-mg conjugated equine estrogens and 5-mg MPA after 12 months of treatment.

Intrauterine administration of levonorgestrel in two low doses in HRT. A randomized clinical trial during one year: effects on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism of two doses (5- or 10 micrograms/24 h) of levonorgestrel released from an intrauterine device (IUD) in combination with orally administered estradiol (2 mg estradiol valerate) in perimenopausal women.

DESIGN

A 1-year prospective randomized single blind clinical trial.

SETTING

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ostra Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.

SUBJECTS

Fifty-one perimenopausal women with climacteric symptoms.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Cholesterol in serum and in lipoprotein fractions; high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Triglycerides in serum and in very low-density lipoprotein.

RESULTS

In both treatment groups significant elevations in HDL-cholesterol of similar magnitude were observed after 1 month and these changes were maintained during the 12 month observation period. In both treatment groups an initial significant decrease of LDL-cholesterol was observed and the decrement was maintained after 12 months. Serum levels of cholesterol decreased significantly in both groups after 1 month and were maintained after 12 months in the levonorgestrel-IUD (LNG-IUD) 5 micrograms group. However, the initial reduction of serum cholesterol in the LNG-IUD 10 micrograms group did not differ from baseline after 12 months. Serum triglyceride levels fluctuated during the observation period. No significant changes occurred.

CONCLUSION

Continuous combined HRT with intrauterine administration of levonorgestrel, 5- or 10 micrograms/24 h, in perimenopausal women was observed to increase HDL-cholesterol and to decrease LDL-cholesterol compared with pretreatment values. The low doses of levonorgestrel did not reverse the beneficial effects on lipid metabolism usually seen after estradiol administration.