Levonorgestrel and 17beta-estradiol given transdermally for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Maturitas
; 50(2): 78-85, 2005 Feb 14.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15653003
ABSTRACT
AIM:
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new transdermal continuous combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis.METHODS:
212 osteopenic (lumbar spine and/or hip (femoral neck) bone mineral density (BMD) between -1.0 and -2.5 S.D. of the premenopausal mean value) postmenopausal women aged 45-65 years participated in a 2-year prospective study. Treatments were 45 microg 17beta-estradiol combined with 30 (n = 69) or 40 microg (n = 72) levonorgestrel daily or placebo (n = 71) given as a 7-day patch. All received a daily supplement of 500 mg calcium. BMD at lumbar spine (L2-L4), hip and total body, as well as blood and urinary biochemical markers of bone turnover (serum osteocalcin (sOC), serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (sBSAP), urinary calcium (uCa) and urinary CrossLaps (uCTX)) were measured regularly.RESULTS:
BMD at the lumbar spine, hip and total body increased by 8, 6 and 3% (P < 0.001), respectively, in the hormone groups versus placebo. The bone markers all decreased accordingly (sOC 37%, sBSAP 34% and uCTX 65% from baseline (all P < 0.001)), except for uCa that did not change significantly. No significant dose-related effect of levonorgestrel was found. Vaginal bleeding/spotting decreased from 48 to 25% of the HRT-treated women during the study period. Skin tolerance was good in 84% of the women with no difference between the study groups. No incidences of endometrial hyperplasia, uterine or mammary cancer occurred.CONCLUSION:
The transdermal combination of 17beta-estradiol and levonorgestrel has a positive effect on BMD in an osteopenic postmenopausal population. Furthermore, a high safety profile was observed.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Estrogen Replacement Therapy
/
Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal
/
Levonorgestrel
/
Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic
/
Estradiol
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Maturitas
Year:
2005
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Dinamarca