Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 10, 2748-2753,
October 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Effects of tibolone and combined 17ß-estradiol and norethisterone acetate on serum C-reactive protein in healthy post-menopausal women: a randomized trial
1 INSERM Research Unit 403 and Synarc, Lyon, 2 Gynecology Department Bichat Hospital, Paris, 3 INSERM ERIT-M0101, Porte-Madeleine Hospital, Orléans, 4 Hotel Dieu Hospital, Paris and 5 Rheumatology Department, Cochin Hospital René-Descartes University, Paris, France
BACKGROUND: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases in healthy post-menopausal women. Oral unopposed and progestin-combined 17ß-estradiol (E2) increase serum CRP in post-menopausal women. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of tibolone, a steroid with estrogenic, androgenic or progestogenic properties, with a combination of E2 and norethisterone acetate (E2 + NETA) on serum CRP levels in healthy post-menopausal women. METHODS: A total of 139 post-menopausal women (mean age: 55 years, range 44–48) was randomly assigned to receive tibolone 1.25 mg/day (n = 52), tibolone 2.5 mg/day (n = 39) or E2 2 mg/day plus NETA 1 mg/day (n = 48) for 2 years. Serum CRP was measured at baseline and at 6, 12 and 24 months. RESULTS: Both doses of tibolone and E2 + NETA increased serum CRP by a similar extent as soon as 6 months with a sustained effect over the 24 month treatment period. For example, after 6 months of treatment, serum CRP increased by a median of +106% (P < 0.001), +89% (P < 0.05) and +139% (P < 0.001) for tibolone 1.25 mg/day, tibolone 2.5 mg/day and E2 + NETA respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Tibolone and E2 + NETA significantly increase serum CRP levels in healthy post-menopausal women to a comparable extent. Relationships between induced elevated CRP levels with tibolone and E2 + NETA and cardiovascular events require further studies.
Key words: cardiovascular disease/C-reactive protein/estradiol/inflammation/tibolone
6 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: INSERM Unit 403, Hôpital E.Herriot, Pavillon F, 69437 Lyon Cedex 03, France. E-mail: patrick.garnero{at}synarc.com
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. M Swegle and M. W Kelly Tibolone: A Unique Version of Hormone Replacement Therapy Ann. Pharmacother., May 1, 2004; 38(5): 874 - 881. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Yilmazer, V. Fenkci, S. Fenkci, O. Aktepe, M. Sonmezer, and G. Kurtay Association of serum complement (C3, C4) and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM) levels with hormone replacement therapy in healthy post-menopausal women Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2003; 18(7): 1531 - 1535. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|