Contrasting effects of oral versus transdermal estrogen on serum amyloid A (SAA) and high-density lipoprotein-SAA in postmenopausal women.

Aamer Abbas, Paul J. Fadel, Zhongyun Wang, Debbie Arbique, Ishwarlal Jialal, Wanpen Vongpatanasin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies indicated that oral estrogen increased C-reactive protein by a first-pass hepatic effect. In this study, we determine whether the route of estrogen administration influences serum amyloid A (SAA), another acute-phase protein produced by the liver, and the SAA content of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL-SAA) in postmenopausal women. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 29 postmenopausal women without coronary heart disease, we conducted a randomized crossover placebo-controlled study to compare effects of transdermal versus oral estrogen on SAA and HDL-SAA. SAA, apolipoprotein A-I, HDL, and HDL-SAA were measured before and after 8 weeks of transdermal estradiol (100 microg per day), oral-conjugated estrogens (0.625 mg per day), or placebo. We found that oral estrogen significantly increased levels of SAA, HDL, and HDL-SAA, whereas transdermal estrogen reduced both SAA and HDL-SAA but had no effect on HDL in the same women. CONCLUSIONS: Oral estrogen increased SAA and altered HDL composition to contain a higher level of SAA by a first-pass hepatic mechanism. Because elevated SAA levels predict adverse prognosis in healthy postmenopausal women, and elevated HDL-SAA levels have been shown to interfere with HDL function, the route of administration may be an important consideration in minimizing side effects of estrogen replacement therapy on cardiovascular outcomes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)e164-167
JournalArteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology
Volume24
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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