Menopause rather than estrogen modifies plasma homocysteine levels.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of transdermal estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on plasma homocysteine levels in postmenopausal women who underwent total hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy.

METHODS

In two-phase open longitudinal prospective study we compared 28 premenopausal women and 35 healthy postmenopausal patients to evaluate the effect of transdermal estrogen treatment (TTS 50 twice-weekly) on plasma homocysteine levels after 6 and 12 months of therapy.

RESULTS

The study showed statistically relevant differences (P<0.05) in baseline plasma homocysteine concentration between the patients in premenopausal and in postmenopausal status. No difference in the plasma homocysteine levels was observed after 6 and 12 months of ERT on postmenopausal patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgically postmenopausal women have higher plasma homocysteine concentrations than premenopausal women, but transdermal estrogen treatment for 12 months in postmenopausal women does not modify homocysteine levels.