EFFECTS OF ESTROGEN REPLACEMENT THERAPY ON RATES OF CYCLIC ALTERNATING PATTERNS AND HOT-FLUSH EVENTS DURING SLEEP IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN -A PILOT-STUDY

The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of conju gated estrogens on the rates of cyclic alternating patterns of sleep ( CAPS) and nocturnal hot flushes in symptomatic postmenopausal women. S even postmenopausal or post-hysterectomy women aged 45 to 60 years wit h nocturnal diaphoresis and/or hot flushes participated in this study. The study was conducted with a single-masked design using a matching placebo. The placebo baseline was followed by a 4-week, single-masked treatment of conjugated estrogens 0.625 mg taken 4 hours before bedtim e. Each patient's sleep was monitored in the laboratory for 3 consecut ive nights during placebo baseline and again for 3 consecutive nights after an at-home period of at least 24 days of estrogen replacement th erapy. Estrogen therapy resulted in a statistically significant decrea se in the overall number of hot flushes and the number of hot flushes associated with awakenings, as well as improvement in sleep efficiency and a reduction in the rate of CAPS. These data confirm earlier well- established reports that estrogens reduce the frequency of hot flushes and suggest that the frequency of nocturnal arousals decreases and sl eep quality improves in conjunction with a reduction in the rate of CA PS.