CHANGES IN THE ERYTHROCYTE ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME-SYSTEM DURING TRANSDERMAL ESTRADIOL THERAPY FOR SECONDARY AMENORRHEA

Twenty-two hypothalamic amenorrheic patients, who were non-smokers and of normal weight, received replacement therapy for 1 month with trans dermal patches containing 8 mg estradiol. No other drugs were prescrib ed or taken during the study. Before treatment (time 0) and 1 month af ter its start, blood samples were taken for assay of plasma estradiol levels, the erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide di smutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and an age-depende nt erythrocyte enzyme activity, pyruvate kinase. Plasma malondialdehyd e levels, as an index of lipoperoxidation products, were also detected . The results showed no significant variations in superoxide dismutase , catalase, pyruvate kinase erythrocyte enzyme activities or plasma ma londialdehyde levels. A significant increase in plasma estradiol level s (time 0, 17.33 +/- 4.12 pg/ml; 1 month, 81.25 +/- 10.45 pg/ml; means +/- SD; p < 0.0001) and in GSH-Px erythrocyte activity (time 0, 11.97 +/- 2.31 IU/g hemoglobin; 1 month, 16.88 +/- 4.38 IU/g hemoglobin; p < 0.004) was found. Plasma estradiol levels correlated significantly w ith GSH-Px erythrocyte activity 1 month after therapy was begun (r = 0 .776, p < 0.003). We suggest that estrogens restored to physiological plasma levels, stimulate erythrocyte antioxidant GSH-Px activity, impr oving the antioxidant power of amenorrheic patients.