COMPARISON OF EFFECTS OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY ON SERUM LIPID PROFILE & LIPOPROTEIN(A) IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective: The study was used to compare the effects of combined estrogen–progestogen therapy and estrogen alone on serum lipid profile and lipoprotein (a). Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted on the patients attending the Gynecology OPD at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Thirty women, who have attained spontaneous or surgical menopause, were selected as cases. All the women with natural menopause received combined estrogen-progestogen therapy (CEE, 0.625 mg and medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg daily) for 6 months. On the other hand, the women who underwent surgical menopause received only estrogen (CEE 0.625 mg) daily for 6 months lipid profile parameters and lipoprotein (a) were measured using commercially available kits before commencement of treatment and on follow-up (at 3 and 6 months). Results: There was a 30% decrease in serum lipoprotein (a) level following 6 months of Hormone replacement therapy. This finding confirms with the positive cardioprotective effects of estrogen. Conclusion: The beneficial effects of estrogen on lipids and lip (a) got partially attenuated when progesterone was added to estrogen.