LIPOPROTEIN(A) AND POSTMENOPAUSAL ESTROGEN

Epidemiological studies have shown that postmenopausal oestrogen thera py substantially reduces the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascula r disease and this is partly mediated by oestrogen-associated changes in lipoproteins. particularly high-density lipoprotein. In this study, we investigated whether changes in lipoprotein(a) might help to accou nt for the reduction in coronary heart disease and stroke associated w ith postmenopausal oestrogen therapy. The study group consisted of 18 women who had hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy at least 2 month s prior to recruitment and had received no previous hormonal therapy. Serum samples were collected for measurement of lipoprotein(a) before and after 4 months of treatment with oestradiol valerate (2 mg/day). L ipoprotein(a) levels ranged from 35 to 720 mg/l (median 180 mg/1) befo re treatment and from 55 to 780 mg/l (median 130 mg/l) after oestradio l treatment and showed no consistent pattern of change. It would appea r, therefore, that treatment with unopposed oestrogen in relatively lo w doses does not have a marked effect on lipoprotein(a), at least in t he short term.