medrogestone and Atrophy

In this study menopausal symptoms, endometrial histology, uterine bleeding pattern, plasma lipid concentrations, bone mineral loss, body weight and blood pressure have been evaluated in postmenopausal women who received continuous conjugated equine estrogens and medrogestone over a 1 year treatment period. By the third month of therapy we detected a significant (p < 0.01) improvement in postmenopausal symptomatology. At the 6th and 12th month, endometrial biopsy specimens revealed atrophic endometrium in all women. Uterine bleeding episodes were observed especially during the first months of treatment. Amenorrhoea was found in all patients only after 8 months of therapy. By the 6th month of therapy, we observed a significant (p < 0.01) decrease of plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Instead, plasma high-density lipoprotein and triglycerides concentrations didn't show significant variation from baseline values. No significant changes in bone mineral density could be detected after 12 months of treatment. Body weight and blood pressure were not significantly altered from baseline. This study suggests that continuous conjugated equine estrogens plus medrogestone treatment appears to be an interesting and safe manner to administer postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy. This regimen could represent a good alternative to sequential estroprogestin therapy in women who do not tolerate withdrawal bleeding.

Topics: Amenorrhea; Atrophy; Biopsy; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endometrial Hyperplasia; Endometrium; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); Female; Humans; Lipoproteins; Medrogestone; Middle Aged; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal; Triglycerides; Uterine Hemorrhage

Treatment (5 mg/kg s.c. for 1 to 4 weeks) of adult male rats with medrogestone (Colprone), a compound with progestational and antiandrogenic properties, induced significant atrophy of the ventral prostate without affecting testicular weight, testicular LH/hCG receptor levels or plasma testosterone. The potent LHRH agonist (D-Ala6, des-Gly-NH210) LHRH ethylamide at 500 ng s.c. for 2-4 weeks suppressed the testicular weight, testicular LH/hCG receptor levels, plasma testosterone levels, and caused atrophy of the androgen-dependent seminal vesicles and ventral prostate. The combination 4 week-treatment of medrogestone and LHRH agonist led to the most significant decrease of prostatic weight. The potential usefulness of this combination therapy in hormone-dependent cancers is discussed.

Topics: Animals; Atrophy; Drug Therapy, Combination; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Hormones; Male; Medrogestone; Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent; Organ Size; Pregnadienes; Prostate; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Seminal Vesicles; Testis; Testosterone