Estradiol administered in a percutaneous gel for the prevention of postmenopausal bone loss

Sixty-one postmenopausal women were randomized into 3 groups. Two groups of women were treated with estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) by percutaneous administration of estradiol gel at a dosage of 1.25 g and 2.5 g, respectively. The third group of women, receiving no treatment except placebo, was studied concurrently as a control group. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in the vertebrae from T12-L3 and hormones (E1, E2, FSH, LH and testosterone) were determined by radioimmunoassay at baseline, then at 6 monthly intervals thereafter. One year of the study has been completed thus far. The results of this study indicate that: (1) loss of BMD in the control group was observed significantly only in surgical menopausal women and no significant loss of BMD was observed in women receiving ERT treatment regimens; (2) decrease of E1 in control group and increase of E1 in the treatment group were both significant. These data suggest that percutaneous ERT may be used in prevention of postmenopausal bone loss, particularly in surgical menopausal women and the increased E1 may play a beneficial role in inhibiting loss of bone mass and relieving menopausal syndrome. Different dosages of estradiol gel which did not create any significant difference between the 2 treatment groups, need a longer period of follow-up.