Published in:
01-03-2004 | Original Article
Serum follicle-stimulating hormone level is a predictor of bone mineral density in patients with hormone replacement therapy
Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics | Issue 3/2004
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Methods
A retrospective study regarding the relationship between serum hormonal levels and bone mineral density (BMD) was performed in 125 women with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Serum estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and BMD were evaluated before and at 12 and 24 months of HRT.
Results
There was a significant increase in E2 and decrease in FSH at both 12 (E2, 39.3±76.6 pg/ml to 71.0±67.9 pg/ml; FSH, 67.9±36.3 mIU/ml to 47.9±29.0 mIU/ml) and 24 months (E2, 68.3±54.5 pg/ml; FSH, 45.3±24.4 mIU/ml). LH level was high at baseline (26.5±16.1 mIU/ml) and decreased at 12 months (22.9±14.0 mIU/ml). On the contrary, it increased from 12 to 24 months (27.4±14.9 mIU/ml). In the lumbar spine BMD, a significant rise was seen only in the first 12 months (0.933±0.157 g/cm2 to 0.938±0.152 g/cm2). When percentage change was analyzed, a significant positive correlation was found between E2 and BMD and a negative correlation between gonadotropin levels and BMD.
Conclusion
These data demonstrate that serum gonadotropin levels, especially FSH, are a good marker to predict BMD in women with HRT.