Lipid Profile Changes During Different Hormone Replacement Therapy Regimens in Postmenopausal Women

Objective: To compare the effects of hormone therapy on serum lipids in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study in 173 healthy postmenopausal women enrolled for this study. Participants had received 2 mg 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and 1 mg norethisterone acetate (E2/NETA) (n=21), 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) and 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) (n=38), 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen and 5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (n=39) and 2.5 mg tibolone (n=75). From the medical records, fasting serum lipid samples were evaluated before and after 6 months of treatment. Results: Total cholesterol decreased significantly only in E2/NETA group (p< 0.05). Mean levels of LDL decreased significantly in E2/NETA (p< 0.05) and CEE/2.5 mg MPA (p< 0.05). There was a significant increase of HDL within the CEE/5 mg MPA group (p< 0.01), whereas in the other groups increase of HDL was not found to be significant. Triglycerides decreased in all groups although the differences were not significant. When percentage of lipid profile changes among four groups were compared, only percentage of changes in LDL was significant between E2/NETA and tibolone groups. Discussion: Different hormone therapy regimes have different effects on lipid profile and none of them seem to be ideal. While many other factors are important for the cardiovascular system, changing of lipid profile may have an important role; so that when prescribing hormone therapy, lipid profile should be evaluated and monitored thereafter.