Cyproterone acetate, an alternative progestogen in postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy? Effects on serum lipids and lipoproteins

Serum lipids and lipoproteins were studied in 76 healthy postmenopausal women treated for 1 year with either oestradiol valerate sequentially combined with the anti-androgenic progestogen cyproterone acetate (CPA) or placebo. The women were examined every 3 months between days 18 and 21 of the tablet cycle, where the progestogen had been added to the oestrogen for at least 6 days. Combined oestrogen-CPA therapy resulted in significantly reduced levels of total serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol at all examinations, but serum triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol levels were similar in the two groups. Total serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were reduced by approximately 5% (P less than 0.01) and 8% (P less than 0.01), respectively, after 1 year of combined oestrogen-CPA therapy in comparison with both the initial values and the placebo group but serum triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol levels were unchanged in both groups.