Preventive effects of transdermal 17 beta-estradiol on osteoporotic changes after surgical menopause: a two-year placebo-controlled trial.

Abstract

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effects of three dosages of transdermally administered 17 beta-estradiol on markers of bone loss in women who had recently undergone surgical menopause. This was a 2-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that reviewed 127 women stratified by age. Biochemical indicators of bone metabolism in urine and serum were periodically assessed, as was bone mineral content of the lumbar spine and radius. Statistical analysis examined the percent changes from baseline in bone mineral density by using an analysis of covariance with treatment as a factor and the baseline value as a covariant, by performing all-pairwise comparisons among the three estradiol groups, and by testing for a linear dose-response relationship. After 2 years of therapy, a significant dose-response relationship was detected. This 2-year study demonstrates that transdermally administered 17 beta-estradiol is a safe and effective regimen for preventing bone loss in recently postmenopausal women.