Premium
HYPERCORTISOLAEMIA AND LACK OF SKELETAL RESPONSE TO OESTROGEN IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN
Author(s) -
AITKEN J. M.,
HALL P. E.,
RAO L. G. S.,
HART D. M.,
LINDSAY R.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1974.tb01792.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , mestranol , postmenopausal women , menopause , urine , bone mineral , osteoporosis , population , research methodology , environmental health , family planning
SUMMARY Measurements of plasma ‘cortisol’ and metacarpal mineral content were made in seventy‐two postmenopausal women of whom one half had been taking 20‐40 μg mestranol daily for 1‐3 years. Urinary free ‘cortisol’ (UFC) was also measured in just over one half of these women. Significant increases in plasma ‘cortisol’ and metacarpal mineral content were found in the mestranol treated women. The greatest bone mineral response was found in those women with plasma ‘cortisol’ concentrations in the range 36‐45 μg/100 ml. A significant inverse relationship was found between UFC and metacarpal mineral change. These findings imply that failure of the skeleton to respond to oestrogen therapy might result from a relative increase in adrenocorticoid activity. It is suggested that the measurement of plasma ‘cortisol’ and UFC may be of value in monitoring the treatment of patients on long‐term oestrogen therapy.