ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of the widely used combination hormone therapy, drospirenone and 17beta-estradiol on the blood pressure, body weight, lipid profiles, and major side effects in postmenopausal Korean women. METHODS: Four hundred seventeen menopausal patients who were being treated with drospirenone/17beta-estradiol at the Asan Medical Center between December 2007 and October 2010 underwent a retrospective chart review. One hundred twenty-five patients were divided into 2 groups based on blood pressure, as follows: group 1 (normal blood pressure, n = 76); and group 2 (stage 1 hypertension and pre-hypertension, n = 49). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the body weight were checked before the treatment, and 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months after taking the medication. RESULTS: The median days of administration were 279. The combination of drospirenone and 17beta-estradiol had a blood pressure-lowering effect in groups 1 and 2. However, the body weight did not show a statistically significant change. Only the level of triglycerides decreased with time and the change was statistically significant. The low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and triglycerides levels had a statistically significant decrease 18 months after the medication. The most common reasons for discontinuouing medication were vaginal spotting (28%), fear of side effects (27%), and ineffectiveness (26%). CONCLUSION: The combination of drospirenone/17beta-estradiol caused a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the body weight showed no statistically significant decrease. Furthermore, triglycerides showed statistically significant decrease and there were no severe side effects of the medication reported.