Effect of hormone replacement therapy on bone and lipid metabolism in women oophorectomized for the treatment of gynecologic malignancies.

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on bone and lipid metabolism in women oophorectomized for the treatment of gynecologic malignancies. Methods: Bone mineral density (BMD), bone metabolic markers, sex hormones and lipoproteins were measured in three groups of age- and body mass-matched subjects. The subjects consisted of HRT(+) patients, i.e. those given HRT after oophorectomy ( n = 39), HRT(−) patients, who received no HRT ( n = 15), and controls comprising premenopausal women with no history of oophorectomy ( n = 36). Results: BMD decreased significantly in the HRT(−) patients, but no decrease in BMD was observed in the controls or HRT(+) patients. HRT was effective in preventing bone loss by reducing high-turnover osteopenia. HRT reversed the negative trends in lipoprotein profiles by lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. There were no serious side effects or recurrences among the HRT(+) patients. Conclusion: HRT appeared to have beneficial effects on bone and lipid metabolism in oophorectomized patients treated for gynecologic malignancies.