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A prospective, case–control study on the lipid profile and the cardiovascular risk of menopausal women on oestrogen plus progestogen therapy in a northern Italy province

  • General Gynecology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the effects of oestrogen plus progestogen therapy (EPT) on the lipid metabolism of menopausal patients.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study on 223 patients with clinical and blood chemistry diagnosis of menopause, who were eligible for hormone therapy and a follow-up period lasting at least 5 years. We selected a control group. Patients attended annual or 6-monthly visits for the duration of the 5-year follow-up period. For each patient, total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride values were considered at the first visit and after 5 years. We compared these values of the above parameters in relation to time and EPT and the repercussions that the presence/absence of replacement therapy had in terms of lipid profile alteration between the groups studied.

Results

Of the 223 patients eligible for enrolment, 178 made up the study group (EPT Group) and 45 made up the control cohort (N-EPT-Group). At the first visit, median value was (EPT-Group vs. N-EPT-Group): cholesterol was 240 versus 226 mg/dL, LDL-cholesterol 169 versus 174 mg/dL, HDL-cholesterol 60 mg/dL in both groups, triglyceride 125 versus 92 mg/dL (p:n.s). Five years later, median value was (EPT-Group versus N-EPT-Group): cholesterol 225 versus 236 mg/dL (p < 0.001), LDL-cholesterol 125 versus 184 mg/dL (p < 0.001), HDL-cholesterol 64 versus 68 mg/dL (p:n.s.), triglyceride 72 versus 94 mg/dL (p:n.s.). No adverse effects of EPT were observed.

Conclusions

Thorough risk/benefit assessment, associated with initially low doses and without rigid cutoffs, particularly when started early, EPT can be made a valid means of cardiovascular prevention, specifically because it positively alters the lipid profile of menopausal women.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

    Tito Silvio Patrelli, Salvatore Gizzo, Laura Franchi, Roberto Berretta, Lavinia Volpi & Alberto Bacchi Modena

  2. Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Child Health, Vicenza General Hospital, Vicenza, Italy

    Tito Silvio Patrelli & Giuliano Carlo Zanni

  3. Department of Neurosciences Unit of Medical Physcs and Statistics, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

    Giuseppe Pedrazzi

  4. Department of Maternal and Child Health, OB/GYN Unit, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Adolf Lukanovic

  5. Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Università degli Studi di Parma, Dottorato di Ricerca in Scienze Ginecologiche ed Ostetriche, Clinica Ginecologica ed Ostetrica, Via Gramsci, 14, 43100, Parma, Italy

    Tito Silvio Patrelli

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  1. Tito Silvio Patrelli
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Correspondence to Tito Silvio Patrelli.

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Patrelli, T.S., Gizzo, S., Franchi, L. et al. A prospective, case–control study on the lipid profile and the cardiovascular risk of menopausal women on oestrogen plus progestogen therapy in a northern Italy province. Arch Gynecol Obstet 288, 91–97 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2702-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2702-y

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