Effects of estrogen therapy on microalbuminuria in healthy post-menopausal women

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of estrogen therapy on microalbuminuria levels in healthy post-menopausal women. METHODS: Sixty post-menopausal women were evaluated in a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups to take one pill orally per day containing either 1 mg of 17beta-estradiol (E(2) group) or placebo (placebo group). Prior to initiating treatment and at the end of the sixth treatment month, microalbumin was measured in a 12-h urine sample, and lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides) and fasting glucose were evaluated. Comparative intra- and inter-group analyses between the initial and final laboratory parameters were performed using the t-test for paired samples and for independent samples, respectively. RESULTS: Microalbuminuria levels remained within normal limits throughout the study and no statistically significant differences were found in the intra- or inter-group analyses. With respect to lipid profile, alterations characteristically encountered during use of estrogen replacement therapy were found. No statistically significant variation in glucose levels occurred during the study period. CONCLUSION: Estrogen replacement therapy had no significant effect on microalbuminuria levels in healthy post-menopausal patients.