Effects of oestradiol administration via different routes on the lipid profile in women with bilateral oophorectomy

To determine the influence of various oestrogenenic administrations on lipid response, 63 women with total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral anexectomy were studied before and 6 and 12 months after receiving 17β-oestradiol by different means. The effect on the levels of lipids and lipoproteins of the 2 mg/24 h administration of oestradiol valerate was compared with 1.5 mg/day of percutaneous 17β-oestradiol and 0.05 mg/day of transdermic oestradiol. The treatments were given continuously over a year. The oestradiol valerate produced a statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) of the HDL-C levels both after 6 and 12 months (10.6% vs. 11.6%). A significant increase was also observed (P < 0.05) in the Apo Al levels during the treatment (18 and 25%). On the other hand, unfavorable side effects with oestradiol were not produced, either percutaneous or transdermic, on lipid plasmatic or lipoprotein levels. These data show the benefit of oral oestrogenic therapy and the maintenance of the lipid profile in percutaneous and transdermic therapies in oophorectomized women.