This meta- analysis shows that oral tibolone treatment significantly lowers circulating Lp(a ) levels in postmenopausal women .
INTRODUCTION Circulating lipoprotein ( a ) ( Lp(a ) ) is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) .
Tibolone , a synthetic steroid , may lower Lp(a ) levels ; however , evidence of the effects of tibolone on Lp(a ) still remain to be defined .
Therefore , we investigated the effects of tibolone treatment on circulating Lp(a ) levels in postmenopausal women .
Tibolone: influence on markers of cardiovascular disease.
Tibolone , a synthetic steroid with estrogenic , and rogenic , and progestogenic properties relieves climacteric symptoms and prevents postmenopausal bone loss . The influence of tibolone treatment on coagulation , fibrinolysis , and lipid metabolism was investigated in 91 healthy late postmenopausal women . They were r and omly assigned in a double-blind , placebo-controlled 2-year study to receive either tibolone 1.25 mg ( n = 36 , 29 completed ) or 2.5 mg ( n = 35 , 28 completed ) or placebo ( n = 20 , 13 completed ) . The biochemical markers of lipid metabolism , fibrinolysis , and coagulation were measured every 3 months . In both tibolone groups a similar ( approximately 30 % ) decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol and a corresponding lowering of apolipoprotein A-1 ( P < 0.001 ) was detected . Also serum total cholesterol and triglycerides were reduced ( approximately 15 % ; P < 0.01 ) , whereas low density lipoprotein cholesterol , apolipoprotein B , and lipoprotein(a ) were unaffected by tibolone . The two dose levels of tibolone result ed in a similar , marked lowering ( approximately 30 % ) of tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor activity as compared with placebo ( P < 0.001 ) . Plasminogen increased ( approximately 15 % ; P < 0.001 ) in both groups . Fibrinogen was lowered ( P < 0.01 ) in the low-dose group , and antithrombin III remained unchanged . The overall effect on hemostatic factors of the present doses of tibolone in healthy , late postmenopausal women tends towards increased fibrinolysis and unchanged coagulation . This may be beneficial and might theoretically counterbalance the potentially negative effect of the decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol
This meta- analysis shows that oral tibolone treatment significantly lowers circulating Lp(a ) levels in postmenopausal women .
INTRODUCTION Circulating lipoprotein ( a ) ( Lp(a ) ) is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) .
Tibolone , a synthetic steroid , may lower Lp(a ) levels ; however , evidence of the effects of tibolone on Lp(a ) still remain to be defined .
Therefore , we investigated the effects of tibolone treatment on circulating Lp(a ) levels in postmenopausal women .