Therapeutic Effect according to Estrogen Dosage on Combined Therapy with Estrogen and Alendronate in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference of bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical markers, and lipid profiles according to dosage of estrogen on combined therapy with estrogen and alendronate in postmenopausal osteoporosis. METHOD: We studied 81 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (T-score<2.5) from March 2002 to February 2005. Subjects were divided in two groups; Group I (n=36), treated with low dose hormone therapy (HT) (0.3 mg estrogen/1.25 mg MPA (Medroxyprogesterone acetate)) and alendronate, and Group II (n=45), treated with standard dose HT (0.625 mg estrogen/2.5 mg MPA) and alendronate. BMD at the L-spine and femur, osteocalcin, deoxypyridinoline, and lipid profiles were measured at baseline and 1 year after treatment. RESULTS: BMD at the L-spine increased significantly in two groups and BMD at the femur increased but showed no statistical differences. Deoxypyridinoline and osteocalcin decreased significantly in two group. Total cholesterol and LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol decreased significantly in two groups, no significant difference was observed between two groups in BMD, osteocalcin, deoxypyridinoline, and lipid profiles. CONCLUSION: We concluded that combined therapy with low dose estrogen and alendronate in postmenopausal osteoporosis showed similar therapeutic effect provied by combined therapy of standard dose estrogen and alendronate.