OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of hormonal replacement therapy on the skin of postmenopausal women. METHOD:Forty-one postmenopausal women were randomly allocated to receive either hormonal replacement (valerate estradiol--2 mg/day for 21 days and cyproterone acetate--1 mg/day for 10 days) or placebo, both in a cyclic scheme for 6 months. Neither patients nor investigators were aware of the group allocation. Histologic changes were evaluated by skin biopsy of the left upper arm at baseline and after 6 months of treatment, utilizing computerized image analysis to assess the ratio area of epidermis/basement membrane length (AE/BML), ratio area of keratin/basement membrane length (AK/BML) and collagen and elastic fibers content. RESULT: Collagen content of the left upper arm increased after 6 months of treatment only in the hormonal group (+6.49%; P < 0.05). Other parameters did not present any significant alteration after treatment in both groups. CONCLUSION: Hormonal replacement for climacterics increases skin collagen content.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of hormonal replacement therapy on the skin of postmenopausal women. METHOD: Forty-one postmenopausal women were randomly allocated to receive either hormonal replacement (valerate estradiol--2 mg/day for 21 days and cyproterone acetate--1 mg/day for 10 days) or placebo, both in a cyclic scheme for 6 months. Neither patients nor investigators were aware of the group allocation. Histologic changes were evaluated by skin biopsy of the left upper arm at baseline and after 6 months of treatment, utilizing computerized image analysis to assess the ratio area of epidermis/basement membrane length (AE/BML), ratio area of keratin/basement membrane length (AK/BML) and collagen and elastic fibers content. RESULT: Collagen content of the left upper arm increased after 6 months of treatment only in the hormonal group (+6.49%; P < 0.05). Other parameters did not present any significant alteration after treatment in both groups. CONCLUSION: Hormonal replacement for climacterics increases skin collagen content.
Authors: Richard J Santen; D Craig Allred; Stacy P Ardoin; David F Archer; Norman Boyd; Glenn D Braunstein; Henry G Burger; Graham A Colditz; Susan R Davis; Marco Gambacciani; Barbara A Gower; Victor W Henderson; Wael N Jarjour; Richard H Karas; Michael Kleerekoper; Roger A Lobo; JoAnn E Manson; Jo Marsden; Kathryn A Martin; Lisa Martin; JoAnn V Pinkerton; David R Rubinow; Helena Teede; Diane M Thiboutot; Wulf H Utian Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2010-06-21 Impact factor: 5.958