Effects of the combined hormonal replacement drug estradiol valerate/levonorgestrel on climacteric complaints, endometrium and lipid profile of peri- and postmenopausal women.

The effects of the combined hormone replacement (HRT) drug estradiol valerate/levonorgestrel (Klimonorm®) on climacteric complaints, endometrial status and lipid profile was studied in 100 peri- and postmenopausal women aged between 41 and 57 years. The duration of therapy was 6 months. The following parameters were investigated: Kuppermann index, endometrial thickness, duration of bleeding, arterial blood pressure, body weight and serum lipids and lipoproteins (total cholesterol TC, LDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides [TG]), A separate analysis was made for 27 patients who had abnormal lipid status before treatment. Total cholesterol above 6.0 mmol/l and/or LDL of more than 3.5 mmol/l was considered abnormal and those patients were labeled as high risk. The results showed a statistically significant reduction in the severity of climacteric symptoms (Kupperman index). A large decrease in the score was observed during the first 3 months of treatment (from 27.9 at the start to mean values of 9.3, p 0.05) in the high risk group. LDL/HDL ratio decreased from 2.7 to 2.3 in all women and from 3.0 to 2.4 (p < 0.05) in the high risk group. No significant changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were recorded. Body weight did not change significantly during the treatment period.