A PROSPECTIVE 2-YEAR STUDY OF PROGESTIN GIVEN ALONE IN POSTMENOPAUSALWOMEN - EFFECT ON LIPID METABOLIC PARAMETERS

OBJECTIVE: A controlled study was conducted to assess the long-term ef fect of a progestin with very low androgenic potency given alone on se rum lipoprotein profile, serum renin substrate, sex hormone-binding gl obulin levels, and serum antithrombin III activity in early postmenopa usal women. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-five early postmenopausal women who h ad not received any form of hormonal treatment after menopause were ra ndomly assigned to a 2-year regimen of 500 mu g of a progestin derived from 19-norprogesterone (promegestone) or a placebo for 21 days of a 28-day treatment cycle. Serum lipid and lipoprotein levels and other b iochemical parameters were measured in the two groups, and differences were sought by statistical analysis. RESULTS: After 2 years of treatm ent the women in the two groups showed no statistically significant va riation from baseline values in the concentrations of any of the bioch emical parameters studied. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that a proges tin with very low androgenic activity given alone has no influence on lipid profile and hepatic synthesis of several proteins in early postm enopausal women.