NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN TOPICAL ESTROGEN THERAPY

Objective: To review new developments in transdermal E(2) therapy in p ostmenopausal women. Design: A bibliographic search (Medline) of the m edical literature from 1966 through 1995 was used to identify new stud ies evaluating transdermal E(2). Patient(s): Menopausal and postmenopa usal women. Result(s): Like oral estrogen, transdermal E(2) relieves m enopausal symptoms, reverses urogenital atrophy, and conserves bone ec onomy. Initial studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of transde rmal E(2) on cardiovascular function. Quality of life, patient satisfa ction, and compliance also improve with transdermal E(2). Advances in transdermal delivery continue to emerge, including low-dose systems an d patches that maintain serum E(2) levels for a full 7-day period. Con clusion(s): New developments in transdermal administration have the po tential to increase the number of postmenopausal women who accept and are compliant with long-term estrogen replacement therapy.