Serum lipids and lipoproteins during therapeutic amenorrhea induced by lynestrenol and depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate.

Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1), and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) were determined in mentally handicapped subjects (n = 87). 33 women were on lynestrenol 5-10 mg for therapeutic amenorrhea (TA). 18 of them were randomly allocated to continue on lynestrenol and 15 were switched to intramuscular administration of medroxyprogesterone (DMPA). The switch to DMPA resulted in significant increases in HDL-C (33%), Apo A1 (12%), as well as in the HDL-C/LDL-C (48%) and Apo A1/Apo B (22%) ratios. The concentrations of HDL-C and Apo A1 were significantly greater in patients receiving DMPA, than in patients continuing with lynestrenol therapy. The amenorrhea incidence, however, did not differ between the two therapy groups. It is concluded that therapy with DMPA may be associated with smaller atherosclerosis risk than with peroral lynestrenol, because of its weaker effect on HDL-C and A1 levels.