Hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women and its effects on plasma lipid levels

Postmenopausal women run the same risks of coronary heart disease as men. The lipid alterations observed at this time reflect increased blood levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipoprotein (a), and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. These changes lead to a higher risk of coronary artery disease, and hormonal therapy has a favorable effect on lipid metabolism. In this paper we review the literature on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women with the emphasis on the role of lipids in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease, and on the action of estrogens and their correlation with progestogens, as well as routes of HRT administration. We conclude that the HRT changes the lipid profile in a potentially anti-atherogenic direction, usually reducing LDL-C and increasing HDL-C and triglycerides. Otherwise, for postmenopausal women with established coronary disease HRT is not recommended.