BIOLOGIC EFFECTS OF DELTA-8-ESTRONE SULFATE IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

OBJECTIVE: To determine in postmenopausal women the biological effects of delta-8-estrone sulfate, a novel estrogen component of Premarin (W yeth-Ayerst, Philadelphia, PA). METHODS: An open-label, nonrandomized study of six healthy postmenopausal women was conducted. Each subject took 0.125 mg of delta-8-estrone sulfate daily for 8 weeks. Blood samp les were collected at day 0 (baseline) and once a week for 8 weeks. Ur ine was collected on day 0 and at weeks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Serum go nadotropins (follicle-stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone), plasma binding proteins (corticosteroid-binding globulin/sex hormone-binding globulin), a marker for bone turnover (urinary n-telopeptide), and ma rkers for cardiovascular effects (cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein , high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein oxidation, and rat e of diene formation) were measured. RESULTS: Follicle-stimulating hor mone levels decreased from 84.0 +/- 8.5 to 67.0 +/- 8.5 mlU/mL (P = .0 2), whereas luteinizing hormone levels did not change. Corticosteroid- binding globulin levels increased from 3.30 +/- 0.16 to 4.10 +/- 0.16 mg/dL (P = .02), and no change in sex hormone-binding globulin was not ed. The n-telopeptide levels decreased an average of 31% from 40.7 +/- 4.9 to 28 +/- 7.0 nmol/L bone collagen equivalents/mmol/L creatinine (P = .03). Plasma diene concentration and diene production rate decrea sed by 34% and 40%, respectively; these changes were not significantly different from baseline values. In contrast, a significant (P = .03) 68% increase in the lag time for low-density lipoprotein, oxidation (3 8.5 +/- 5.5 minutes versus 64.8 +/- 8.5 minutes) was observed. No sign ificant change occurred in total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein , and low-density lipoprotein. CONCLUSION: Small doses (0.125 mg) of d elta-8-estrone sulfate have profound estrogenic effects in postmenopau sal women. The changes observed in n-telopeptide levels and the lag-ti me delay in oxidation of low-density lipoprotein indicate that this es trogen contributes toward the overall beneficial effects on bone and c ardiovascular system associated with Premarin therapy. Copyright (C) 1 998 by the Society for Gynecologic Investigation.