A COMPARATIVE MULTICENTER STUDY OF 2 TRANSDERMAL ESTRADIOL REPLACEMENT THERAPIES IN THE TREATMENT OF POSTMENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS

Objective-Comparison of the effects of treatment of two transdermal th erapeutic systems for estrogen replacement therapy with regard to effi cacy, tolerability, and acceptance. Design-Open randomized. Setting-Mu lticenter. Patients and Interventions-A study population of 104 postme nopausal women was randomized on a 1:1 basis to treatment with one of two estradiol patches, Systen(R) (Cilag) and Estraderm(R) (Ciba-Geigy) . Outcome Measures-Systolic and diastolic BP, hot flushes, night sweat ing, fatigue, insomnia, depression, nervousness, headache, vaginal dis comfort (efficacy variables); bleeding, dermatological symptoms, comfo rt and adhesiveness of patch, and other possible causes of discontinua tion (tolerability); general evaluation by patient (acceptance). Resul ts-Considering all efficacy variables, 53% of Systen and 46% of Estrad erm patients found the therapy satisfactory. Tolerability was somewhat higher in the Systen group. Adhesiveness of the patch was significant ly better for Systen. Overall, 79% of Systen patients and 62% of Estra derm patients evaluated treatment as ''good'' or ''very good.'' The ma jority of patients in both groups found the patch very comfortable or only slightly obtrusive.