Studies on estrogen replacement therapy with conjugated estrogens by histological evaluation of the endometrium of 205 women
Aoki, T.
Nihon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi 40(6): 736-740
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9165 PMID: 2839585 Document Number: 306894
205 postmenopausal women, who received 0.625 mg of conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) daily for 2 .apprx. 12 years, were evaluated by endometrial histopathology in three treatment schedules. Group I received CEE for 3 weeks followed by a pause for 1 week in each course. Group II took norethindrone, 10 mg daily for 1 week, between CEE and the one week pause. Group III received CEE on calendar days 1 to 21 and norethindrone, 10 mg daily, together from day 15 to day 21, and no drug from day 22 every month. The endometrial biopsy was done before and 3 months after the start of the treatment, and every twelve months thereafter. In Group I (73 cases, 4,327 course), 2 cystic hyperplasias and 8 adenomatous hyperplasia, and in Group II (70 cases, 3,936 courses), 2 cystic hyperplasias, 14 adenomatous hyperplasias, and 2 atypical hyperplasias were developed. In contrast, in Group III (62 cases, 2,765 course), only 2 adenomatous hyperplasias appeared. Accordingly the incidence of endometrial hyperplasia was 1 for 433, 219, and 1,383 courses respectively. These hyperplasias rapidly disappeared after the cessation of estrogen administration. No endometrial carcinomas were detected throughout the treatment. From these results the treatment schedule for Group III was judged to be superior to the others.