Serum lipids and lipoproteins in postmenopausal women receiving transdermal oestrogen in combination with a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device

• Published in: Maturitas 1995-06, Vol.22 (1), p.47-53
• Main Authors: Raudaskoski, T.H., Tomás, E.I., Paakkari, I.A., Kauppila, A.J., Laatikainen, T.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Administration, Oral; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cholesterol - blood; Climacteric - blood; Climacteric - drug effects; Estradiol - administration & dosage; Estradiol - adverse effects; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hormone replacement therapy; Hormones. Endocrine system; Humans; Intrauterine Devices, Medicated; Levonorgestrel - administration & dosage; Levonorgestrel - adverse effects; Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device; Lipids; Lipids - blood; Lipoproteins; Lipoproteins - blood; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Norethindrone - administration & dosage; Norethindrone - analogs & derivatives; Norethindrone Acetate; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Transdermal oestrogen; Triglycerides - blood
• ISSN: 0378-5122; 1873-4111
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-5122(95)00906-2

To compare the effects of a non-oral combination of a transdermal oestradiol patch (50 μg daily) and an intrauterine device (IUD) releasing 20 μg of levonorgestrel daily on the serum pattern of lipids and lipoproteins with an established oral regimen of a daily dose of 2 mg of oestradiol and 1 mg of noretisterone acetate. Methods: An open, randomized study comprised of 40 healthy, early postmenopausal women. Results: During 1 year the concentration of total cholesterol decreased 5.0% in the LNg-IUD group and 10.6% in the oral therapy group; HDL cholesterol decreased 10.9% and 12.8%, respectively, and HDL 2 cholesterol decreased 18.1% and 26.9%, respectively. LDL cholesterol values did not change in the LNg-IUD group, whereas a 10.3% decrease was observed in the oral therapy group. Triglyceride values did not change in either group. There were no significant differences in the serum lipoprotein changes between the groups during the treatment. Conclusions: The use of a non-oral regimen of hormone replacement therapy has been advocated to minimize the effect of steroids on the liver. Its effects on the serum pattern of lipids and lipoproteins, however, did not differ significantly from those induced by a continuous oral treatment regimen.