Adrenal function under long-term raloxifene administration.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of long-term (12 months) administration of raloxifene hydrochloride (60 mg/day) on the steroid production of the adrenal cortex and on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in postmenopausal women. We performed a basal evaluation ,a corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) (100 μg i.v. bolus) test and a dexamethasone (DXM) (0.25 mg) suppression-adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (10 μg i.v. bolus) stimulation test in 11 postmenopausal women ,before and after 3 ,6 and 12 months of raloxifene treatment. Raloxifene administration significantly modified circulating levels of adrenal steroids ,decreasing cortisol (-24%) ,dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (-36%) ,and its sulfate (DHEAS) (-41%) ,and androstenedione (-29%) ,and increasing circulating allopregnanolone (+39%) levels. Progesterone and 17OH-progesterone levels remained unmodified ,while estradiol and estrone levels showed a significant decrease (-51% for estradiol and -61% for estrone). We also observ...