Well-being at onset of hormone replacement therapy: comparison between two continuous combined regimens

A prospective study of hormone therapy and depression in community-dwelling elderly women: the Three City Study

BACKGROUND

The potential benefits of hormone therapy (HT) in treating depressed postmenopausal women are controversial, and data on depression (re)emergence in the context of HT discontinuation are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether HT is associated with a modified risk of new-onset depressive symptoms in elderly women.

METHOD

Current depressive symptomatology was evaluated in 4,069 community-dwelling postmenopausal women aged 65 years and over who were randomly recruited from 3 French cities between 1999 and 2001. Depressive symptomatology was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale at baseline and as part of the 2- and 4-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Over the follow-up period, multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusted for sociodemographic variables, measures of physical health, and cognitive impairment failed to find a significant association between HT at baseline and the incidence of depressive symptoms. However further analysis indicated an increased risk of incident depressive symptoms for women using transdermal estradiol treatment combined with synthetic progestin specifically (odds ratio [OR] = 1.59; 95% CI, 1.01-2.50; P = .046). In addition, while women taking HT continuously over the 4-year follow-up did not show an increased risk of depressive symptoms, women who stopped their treatment early after study inclusion, had a significantly higher risk (OR = 2.63; 95% CI, 1.52-4.55; P = .0005).

CONCLUSIONS

Hormone therapy was not associated with a protective effect against the emergence of depressive symptoms in elderly postmenopausal women. However, discontinuing treatment could increase the risk of depressive symptoms. Data on the appropriate management of depression in the context of HT discontinuation among postmenopausal women require further investigation.

Iliac vein stenting in postmenopausal leg swelling

BACKGROUND

Leg swelling in menopausal women is well known. Prevailing concept in primary care is that it is polycentric and a treatable cause may not be found. Patients are placed on empiric diuretics often without benefit. Our clinical experience indicates that iliac venous vein obstruction is the core cause; a variety of secondary factors common in postmenopausal women precipitate symptoms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 163 limbs in 150 postmenopausal women (≥ 55 years of age) with leg swelling unresponsive to conservative therapy underwent intravascular ultrasound-guided iliac vein stenting over an 11-year period. Preoperative investigations included duplex, airplethysmography, venous pressure tests, contrast studies, and lymphangiography. The postmenopausal group constituted 9% of all limbs (n = 1760) stented for chronic venous disease (CVD) during the same period and 18% of those stented for swelling (n = 922). Median age was 67 (range, 55-92) and left-to-right ratio 2:1.

RESULTS

Iliac vein obstruction was "primary" (nonthrombotic) in 65% and postthrombotic in 35% of limbs; 35% of limbs had obstruction only and 65% combined obstruction/reflux. Lymphatic dysfunction was present in 21% of the limbs. Mean intravascular ultrasound area stenosis was 68% ± 22 SD. Mean follow-up was 22 months (± 26 SD) (range, 1-113 months). Secondary stent patency (6 years) was 100% in primary and 91% in postthrombotic limbs; overall 98%. Swelling improved significantly (P < .0001) from preoperative grade 2.5 (± 0.8 SD) to postoperative grade 1.2 (1.2 SD). Associated pain also improved significantly (P < .0001) from preoperative visual analog scale 3.5 (± 3 SD) to postoperative 0.9 (2.1 ± SD). Quality-of-life (CIVQ) scores improved significantly in every category and overall (P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with postmenopausal leg swelling often have obstructive venous pathology even though suggestive venous history and other signs are often absent. Morbidity arises from painful swelling that affects mobility, quality of life, and ability of self-care at later stages of life. Outpatient percutaneous iliac vein stenting affords substantial symptom relief and improvement in quality-of-life measures. Recognition of the clinical complex as a distinct entity of venous origin may lead to greater awareness and effective treatment.

Response to SSRIs and role of the hormonal therapy in post-menopausal depression

The aim of this study is to prospectively evaluate the antidepressant response to SSRIs in depressed post-menopausal women with or without hormonal therapy (HT), and to analyze the possible influence of basal serum levels of gonadotropins and sexual hormones on the antidepressant response. 170 post-menopausal women with a depressive episode (DSM-IV criteria)--47 on HT and 123 not on HT--started the treatment with an SSRI. Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and 7 weeks thereafter by raters blind to treatment regimen. Response rates were 63.2% in the group without HT and 83.7% in the HT group (p=0.013). An inverse correlation emerged between the basal levels of LH and the improvement in HRSD scores (p=0.001) in the group without HT. In conclusion, HT appeared to improve the antidepressant response to SSRIs. Furthermore, in post-menopausal women, LH basal levels may be taken into account as possible predictor of response.

Hormonal Management of Migraine Associated With Menses and the Menopause: A Clinical Review

OBJECTIVE

This article reviews hormonal strategies used to treat headaches attributed to the menstrual cycle or to peri- or postmenopausal estrogen fluctuations. These may occur as a result of natural ovarian cycles, or in response to the withdrawal of exogenously administered estrogen.

BACKGROUND

A wide variety of evidence indicates that cyclic ovarian sex steroid production affects the clinical expression of migraine. This has led to interest in the use of hormonal treatments for migraine.

METHODS

A PubMed search of the literature was conducted using the terms "migraine,""treatment,""estrogen,""hormones,""menopause," and "menstrual migraine." Articles were selected on the basis of relevance.

RESULTS

The overarching goal of hormonal treatment regimens for migraine is minimization of estrogen fluctuations. For migraine associated with the menstrual cycle, supplemental estrogen may be administered in the late luteal phase of the natural menstrual cycle or during the pill-free week of traditional combination oral contraceptives. Modified contraceptive regimens may be used that extend the duration of active hormone use, minimize the duration or extent of hormone withdrawal, or both. In menopause, hormonally associated migraine is most likely to be due to estrogen-replacement regimens, and treatment generally involves manipulating these regimens. Evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of these regimens is limited.

CONCLUSIONS

Hormonal treatment of migraine is not a first-line treatment strategy for most women with migraine. Evidence is lacking regarding its long term harms and migraine is a contraindication to the use of exogenous estrogen in all women with aura and those aged 35 or older. The harm to benefit balances of several traditional nonhormonal therapies are better established.

Diagnosis and management of mood disorders during the menopausal transition

Recent census data indicate that, in the United States, an increasing number of women--almost 1.5 million each year--are reaching menopause. The menopausal transition is marked by intense hormonal fluctuations, and may be accompanied by vasomotor complaints, sleep disturbances, changes in sexual function, and increased risk for osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. In addition, there is evidence of increased risk for developing depression, even among women who never experienced depressive symptoms before. Thus depression during the perimenopause may have a substantial impact on personal, family, and professional spheres of life. A challenge to clinicians and health professionals lies in the identification of the most tolerable treatments to manage depression and improve quality of life in an aging population. Any treatment strategy should take into account not only the spectrum of side effects that may complicate treatment but also other menopause-related factors (e.g., vasomotor symptoms, psychosocial stressors) that may modulate risk for the development of mood disturbance. This article reviews the current literature on the prevalence and risk factors associated with depression during the menopausal transition. The benefits and risks of using hormonal and nonhormonal strategies for the management of depression and other menopause-related somatic symptoms are critically reviewed.