Level of total cholesterol in serum of patients with breast cancer treated with tamoxifen
Wojtacki, J.; Dziewulska-Bokiniec, A.
Polski Tygodnik Lekarski 48(23-24): 505-506
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0032-3756 PMID: 8170824 Document Number: 408726
Estrogens play an important role in lipid metabolism regulation. The present study aimed at evaluating an effect of anti-estrogen therapy with tamoxifen on blood serum total cholesterol levels in women with breast cancer. Mean total cholesterol concentration in women treated with tamoxifen was 5.36 mmol/l vs. 6.64 mmol/l in patients not treated with tamoxifen. The difference was statistically significant (P < .001). Hypercholesterolemia was diagnosed only in 1 patient treated with tamoxifen (2.4%) while in 9 (27.35) patients not given this drug. The difference was also statistically significant (P < .001). Lower blood serum concentrations of the total cholesterol in women treated with tamoxifen are probably produced by the estrogen-like effect on lipid metabolism.