COMBINATION ESTROGEN AND PROGESTOGEN REPLACEMENT THERAPY DOES NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT COAGULATION

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  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 62  (5) , 596-600
Abstract
Coagulation and fibrinolysis profiles of naturally menopausal women receiving conjugated estrogens (0.625 or 1.25 mg for 21 of 28 days) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (10 mg for 7 of 28 days) for 18 mo. were compared with those of similar women receiving no hormone therapy. Tests indicative of the dynamics of the coagulation cascade, ongoing intravascular coagulation and anticoagulation were performed. Hormone therapy had no effect on prothrombin times, activated partial thromboplastin times or thrombin times. There was no evidence of intravascular coagulation in any of the groups as assessed by platelet counts, fibrinogen antigen and activity, and fibrin degradation products. Antithrombin III antigen and activity, .alpha.1-antitrypsin antigen and .alpha.2-macroglobulin antigen, the natural inhibitors of coagulation, were also unaffected by hormone therapy. Plasminogen antigen levels were unaffected, but plasminogen activity was enhanced in the hormone-treated groups, suggesting a stimulatory effect on fibrinolysis. Evidently in terms of the coagulation system, healthy women can safely use a combined regimen of conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate.