Effects of estrone sulfate alone or with medroxyprogesterone acetate on serum lipoprotein levels in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of estrone sulfate alone or with different doses of medroxyprogesterone acetate on serum lipid and lipoprotein levels.

METHODS

A multicenter, double-masked, randomized trial for 1 year involved 682 postmenopausal women, aged 53.8 +/- 0.2 years (mean +/- standard deviation) with intact uteri. Subjects received fixed daily doses of 0.625 mg of estrone sulfate and one of the following regimens: placebo; 2.5 mg daily of medroxyprogesterone acetate; 5 mg daily of medroxyprogesterone acetate; or 10 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate for the first 12 days of each 28-day cycle. Fasting lipid and lipoprotein levels were measured at baseline and weeks 12, 16, 24, 30, 36, and 52 of treatment. Absolute mean changes from baseline were determined by paired t test, and treatment effects were determined by analysis of variance.

RESULTS

Total cholesterol levels decreased significantly (P <.05) from baseline in all study groups; however, reduction was significantly greater (P <.001) in the 2.5-, 5-, and 10-mg groups (-13.3%, -15.2%, and -14.1%) than in the placebo group (-4.9%). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased significantly and equally in all groups (-10.1% to -12.3%). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased by 3.2% with unopposed estrogen (P <.05) and did not change from baseline with combined therapy. Triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased by 13.4% and 2.7%, respectively, in the placebo group, did not change in the 2.5-mg group, decreased by 10.2% and 2.0% and by 11.4% and 2.2% in the 5- and 10-mg groups, respectively (P <.05).

CONCLUSION

Estrone sulfate at the daily dose of 0.625 mg alone or with medroxyprogesterone acetate significantly improved lipoprotein levels. Combined therapy with medroxyprogesterone acetate and estrone sulfate was associated with statistically significantly greater reduction in total cholesterol and statistically significantly less increase in triglyceride levels than unopposed estrone sulfate therapy.