Objective: To assess the effects of oral E2 replacement therapy on various hemostatic parameters and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy, postmenopausal women.
Design: A double-blind, randomized, prospective study comparing the effect of a placebo and of oral micronized E2 (2 mg daily) during a 6-month period. Evaluations were performed before treatment and after 3 and 6 months.
Setting: Departments of Gynecology, Hemostasis, and Nutrition, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris, France.
Patient(s): Thirty-six healthy women with natural or surgical menopause.
Result(s): Compared with placebo, oral E2 replacement therapy resulted in a significant decrease in fibrinogen and apo B and a significant increase in plasminogen.
Conclusion(s): Besides the effects on lipoproteins, oral estrogen replacement therapy modifies parameters involved in coagulation and fibrinolysis.