EFFECTS OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN BONE-RESORPTION, IN POST MENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Background: The effects of different therapies on bone loss rate can b e measured using biochemical markers of bone resorption such as urinar y hydroxyproline. Aim: To study the effects of hormone replacement the rapy on urinary hydroxyproline in postmenopausal women. Patients and m ethods: Eighty three postmenopausal women without hormone replacement therapy, 54 postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy and 16 premenopausal women (considered as the control group) were stu died. Hydroxyproline was measured in an early morning urine sample, af ter one day of diet without meat or gelatin. Results: Urinary hydroxyp roline in premenopausal women was 33.7 +/- 7.9 mg/g creatinine. The fi gure for postmenopausal women with hormonal replacement therapy was 33 .7 +/- 5.9 mg/g creatinine. Postmenopausal women without replacement t herapy had an urinary hydroxyproline of 47.4 +/- 8.5 mg/g creatinine, significantly higher than that of premenopausal and supplemented women . In 21 postmenopausal women, hydroxyproline was measured before and a fter three months of replacement therapy; values and the degree of red uction (r = 0.69, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Postmenopausal women receiv ing hormone replacement therapy have a urinary hydroxyproline excretio n similar to that of premenopausal women.