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Published on: August 13, 2019
Uterine effects of raloxifene in comparison with continuous-combined hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal
P Fugère1, W H Scheele, A Shah
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Montreal, Hôpital Saint-Luc, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Objective:
We sought to compare the uterine effects of raloxifene with those of continuous-combined hormone replacement therapy.
Study Design:
This randomized, double-blind 24-month study involved 136 postmenopausal women who received raloxifene 150 mg/d or conjugated equine estrogens 0.625 mg/d with medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg/d. After baseline evaluations, endometrial biopsy specimens were obtained, and endometrial thickness was measured annually by means of transvaginal ultrasonography. Statistical analyses were performed with an intention-to-treat approach.
Results:
In the raloxifene group at the end point of the study 94.4% of biopsy specimens showed normal benign postmenopausal endometrium and 5.6% were classified as benign stimulatory endometrium. In the continuous-combined hormone replacement therapy group at the end point of the study 78.7% of biopsy specimens showed normal benign postmenopausal endometrium, 19. 1% were classified as benign stimulatory endometrium, and 2.1% showed benign abnormal postmenopausal endometrium. Mean endometrial thickness was unchanged from baseline with raloxifene and was increased significantly by 0.5 mm at 12 months with continuous-combined hormone replacement therapy.
Conclusion:
Raloxifene 150 mg/d did not increase endometrial thickness or cause endometrial proliferation in healthy postmenopausal women.