THE EFFECT OF TRANSDERMAL ESTRADIOL ON THE CONJUNCTIVA IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Objective: To evaluate the effect of hormonal replacement therapy on t he conjunctiva in postmenopausal women. Study design: A prospective cl inical study in the setting of a tertiary-care university hospital. El even postmenopausal women received hormonal replacement therapy (trans dermal estradiol or transdermal estradiol plus medroxyprogesterone ace tate) for 4 months. Serum estradiol levels as well as vaginal and conj unctival maturation value (a cytological parameter) were measured befo re and after the treatment. Data were analysed using the Wilcoxon matc hed pairs signed-Rank test. Results: A significant increase of serum e stradiol levels (P < 0.01) and of vaginal maturation value (P < 0.01) were found. Cytological maturation changes in conjunctival epithelium were also observed. These changes, although mild, were statistically s ignificant (P < 0.01). Conclusion: These data support the view that th e hormonal replacement therapy induces cytological maturation changes in conjunctival epithelium in postmenopausal women. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.