Evaluation of the lipid profile in patients submitted to hormone replacement therapy

The cardiovascular disease is the main death cause among women in the devel oped countries. The risk of cardiovascular disease increases mainly after t he menopause due to increase of the total cholesterol, the LDL cholesterol and decrease of the HDL cholesterol, which contribute to the atherogenesis. The estrogen replacement therapy reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseas e by causing increase in HDL and decrease of LDL. Our study aimed to evalua te the lipid profile before, after 6 months and after 1 year of HRT. We ver ified decrease of total cholesterol, of LDL and increase of HDL after 6 mon ths and after 1 year of therapy. There was also increase of the triglycerid e though not significant after 6 months of use.