SERUM-LIPIDS AND LIPOPROTEINS IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN RECEIVING TRANSDERMAL ESTROGEN IN COMBINATION WITH A LEVONORGESTREL-RELEASING INTRAUTERINE-DEVICE

Objectives: To compare the effects of a non-oral combination of a tran sdermal oestradiol patch (50 mu g daily) and an intrauterine device (I UD) releasing 20 mu g of levonorgestrel daily on the serum pattern of lipids and lipoproteins with an established oral regimen of a daily do se of 2 mg of oestradiol and 1 mg of noretisterone acetate, Methods. A n open, randomized study comprised of 40-healthy, early postmenopausal women, Results: During 1 year the concentration of total cholesterol decreased 5.0% in the LNg-IUD group and 10.6% in the oral therapy grou p; HDL cholesterol decreased 10.9% and 12.8%, respectively, and HDL, c holesterol decreased 18.1% and 26.9%, respectively. LDL cholesterol va lues did not change in the LNg-IUD group, whereas a 10.3% decrease was observed in the oral therapy group, Triglyceride values did not chang e in either group. There were no significant differences in the serum lipoprotein changes between the groups during the treatment. Conclusio ns: The use of a non-oral regimen of hormone replacement therapy has b een advocated to minimize the effect of steroids on the liver. Its eff ects on the serum pattern of lipids and lipoproteins, however, did not differ significantly from those induced by a continuous oral treatmen t regimen.