Effects of Transdermal and Oral Oestrogen Replacement Therapy on C-Reactive Protein Levels in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Trial

To investigate the effect of postmenopausal oral and transdermal hormone therapy on plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP),we performed a randomised,double-blind,double-dummy,placebo-controlled,15-month study.One hundred and fifty-two healthy hysterectomised postmenopausal women received daily ither placebo (n =49), or transdermal 17β-oestradiol (E2)50 μg (tE2 group,n =33),or oral E2 1 mg (oE2 group,n =37),or oral E2 1 mg combined with gestodene 25 μg (oE2 +G group,n =33)for thirteen 28-day treatment cycles, followed by four cycles placebo for each group.Data were collected at baseline and in cycles 4,13 and 17.In cycle 13,CRP was significantly increased in the oE2 group compared to placebo (P =0.004).The median percentage change from baseline versus placebo was +75% (P