EFFECT OF TRANSDERMAL ESTRADIOL ON THE HEMOSTATIC BALANCE OF MENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Objective: To determine the effect of transdermal oestrogen replacement therapy on the haemostatic balance of menopausal women. Design: Open, parallel group, prospective study. Setting: Three hospital-based menopause clinics. Subjects: Fifty-two postmenopausal women receiving transdermal hormone replacement therapy (Estrapak 50) for 6 months. Comparison group of 48 untreated postmenopausal women studied in parallel. Main outcome measures: Changes in platelet number, plasma concentrations of coagulation factors and their natural inhibitors, fibrinolytic activity, and rheological parameters. Results: Estrapak 50 had no significant thrombophilic effect on any of the outcome measures. Conclusion: The haemostatic balance and thus the risk of thrombosis would not appear to be upset by this dose of transdermal oestrogen.