Type III collagen content in the skin of postmenopausal women receiving oestradiol and testosterone implants

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of subcutaneous oestradiol and testosterone on the proportion of type III collagen in the skin of postmenopausal women. DESIGN: A cross sectional comparison. SETTING: Dulwich Hospital menopause clinic. SUBJECTS: Fourteen untreated women and 11 women who had received subcutaneous oestradiol and testosterone for a median 8.0 years (range 3-14). Ten of the untreated women received subcutaneous hormone implants and the effect on skin collagen was studied prospectively. MEASUREMENTS: The proportion of type III collagen in skin biopsies taken from the lateral aspect of the thigh. RESULTS: The median type III collagen content in the skin of the women who had received hormone replacement therapy (25.4%, range 21.4-30.2) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in the untreated women (19.6%, range 18.2-28.8). The proportion of type III collagen in the skin of 10 untreated women increased significantly (P < 0.01) from a median of 19.9% (range 18.2-23.9) to 22.4% (range 20.5-31.5) following 6 months of treatment with hormone implants. CONCLUSION: This study indicates an increase in the proportion of type III collagen in women receiving hormone replacement therapy.