Hormone replacement therapy and urinary prostaglandins in postmenopausal women

The objective of the study was to observe the effects of hormone replacement therapy upon urinary prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2 alpha levels in postmenopausal patients. A total number of 55 women were enrolled in this study and 15 premenopausal (PreM) healthy subjects constitute the control group. A total of 40 patients at least 12 months after their natural menopause were divided into two groups: 15 of them was not medicated hormone replacement therapy (which composed NRHRT group) while 25 of the rest, received conjugated estrogen (Premarin) 0.625 mg/day orally plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (Farlutal) 10 mg/day orally built up the RHRT group. PGE2 and PGF2 alpha levels were measured with PGE2 [125I] and PGF2 alpha [3H] RIA kits. Statistical significance was analyzed by Student's t-test for impaired data. NRHRT and RHRT patients had had increased urinary PGE2 levels when compared with PreM (P < 0.001). HRT caused a significant decrease in PGE2 levels in menopausal women (P < 0.001). Urinary PGF2 alpha values of NRHRT and RHRT were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in comparison with PreM group. There was no difference in PGF2 alpha values between two postmenopausal groups. HRT given to postmenopausal patients might have a positive impact on prostaglandins and therefore on bone turnover in a series of various mechanisms.