Endocrine Abstracts

We have investigated the effects of estradiol valerat plus dienogest and raloxifene on serum high sensitive C - reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in healthy postmenopausal women. This study was approved by the local ethics committee. Forty eight healthy postmenopausal women were randomly divided into three groups. While group I (n=16) was given 60 mg raloxifene, group II (n=16) received continuously 2 mg estradiol valerat plus 2 mg dienogest. Group III (n=16) received no medication. Serum hsCRP levels were measured before and 3 months after commencing the study. One-way and repeated measures of ANOVA tests were used for statistical analysis. Serum hsCRP levels (Mean±SD) determined in the beginning of the study were not significantly differ among groups (Group I: 2.9±2.3; Group II: 4.0±2.9 and Group III: 2.7±2.0). After 3 months of therapy, while raloxifene did not significantly change the serum hsCRP levels (2.5±2.1) when compared to control (2.7±1.6), estradiol valerat plus dienogest treatment significantly increased its serum concentrations in comparison to control (p<0.05) and raloxifene (p<0.05) groups. Serum hsCRP levels in estradiol valerat plus dienogest administered group were also significantly elevated compared to the pretreatment values (from 4.0±2.9 to 5.3±3.0; p<0.05). Estradiol valerat plus dienogest increases serum hsCRP concentrations in healthy postmenopausal women. It was observed that raloxifene had no significant effect on this parameter.