Evaluation and comperation of effects of the oral and transdermal estrogen replacement therapies on serum homocysteine, interleukin 6 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels which are predictors of risk for cardiovascular disease

The aim of this study was to investigate and to compare effects of oral and transdermal estrogen replacement therapies given to postmenopausal women without a uterus on serum, homocysteine (Hcy), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which are predictors of risk for cardiovascular disease.The study included 45 women with surgical menopause presenting to the outpatient clinic of menopause of Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic of Adnan Menderes University Hospital. Out of 45 women, 15 received oral hormone replacement therapy (estradiol hemihydrate 2 mg/day, Estrofem®), 15 received transdermal hormone replacement therapy (estradiol hemihydrate 0.1% gel 1.5 mg/day, Estreva®) and 15 received no hormone replacement therapy. Blood samples were collected from all women to measure Hcy, IL-6 and PAI-1 levels. Obtained results were compared between the groups.There was no significant difference in age, height, weight, body mass index, waist circumflex and duration of menopause between the groups. Independent of the mode of administration, IL 6 and PAI-1 levels were higher in the women receiving oral and transdermal therapy than the patients receiving no therapy. There was no difference in Hcy levels between the groups.Considering that Hcy is a predictor of the risk for cardiovascular disease, the results of this study show that hormone replacement therapy neither protects against nor deteriorates cardiovascular disease. However, further longitudinal studies on patient series with adjusted basal values of the parameters tested are needed.Key Words: Hormone replacement therapy, Homocysteine, Interleukin 6, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1Correspondence address: Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi Kadın Hastalıkları ve DoğumAnabilim Dalı AYDIN / TÜRKİYETel: 05333387321 E-mail: minegul181@hotmail.com