[Hormonal therapy of osteoporosis in women after ovariectomy]

In 25 women with ovariectomy made before the menopause and in a control group of 11 women after the menopause the authors examined laboratory values of the calcium phosphate metabolism and bone density. They repeated the examinations 6 and 12 months after treatment with a combined sequence oestrogen and gestagen preparation--Presomen 0.6 comb. of KaliChemie (Solvay), FRG. After one year of treatment the calcium and phosphate blood levels did not change substantially nor the alkaline phosphatase activity or its bone isoenzyme (although an insignificant increase occurred after six months). On the other hand, the originally elevated calciuria suggesting enhanced resorption of bone mineral, declined in the group of ovariectomized women on average by 3.02 mmol/d, i.e. the women lost by 120 mg less Ca, and the density increased by 6.80%! In a group of postmenopausal women the calciuria declined on average by 2.80 mmol (urinary Ca losses were by 113 mg lower) and the density increased by 4.18%. The results of this investigation support unequivocally not only the benefit but also the necessity of combined hormonal treatment after ovariectomy made before the menopause and provide also evidence of its importance in the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.