Continuous combined and sequential estradiol and norethindrone acetate treatment of postmenopausal women: effect of plasma lipoproteins in a two-year placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to examine the effects of postmenopausal estrogen therapy supplemented with progestogen on plasma lipoprotein levels.

STUDY DESIGN

One hundred thirteen women were randomized to receive either placebo or a combination of 17 beta-estradiol and norethindrone acetate administered continuously (Kliogest) or sequentially (Trisequens). Plasma lipoprotein levels were measured at baseline and after 2 years of treatment and compared by analysis of variance.

RESULTS

Hormone therapy lowered plasma cholesterol levels (p < 0.001) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Kiogest, p < 0.001; Trisequens, p < 0.01), whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were unchanged (Trisequens) or reduced (Kliogest, p < 0.01), primarily because of a decrease in the high-density lipoprotein-2 subfraction (p < 0.05). Low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

Although hormonal replacement therapy with estradiol combined with norethindrone acetate eliminated the increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels observed with estrogen monotherapy, the reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations still suggest reduced cardiovascular risk, according to the National Cholesterol Education Program and to recent observations indicating that risk is not necessarily inversely proportional to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.