The study subjects included a total of 30 postmenopausal Chinese women, including 14 natural menopausal women, 13 castrated menopausal women and 3 post-irradiated menopausal women.
Premarin 1.25 mg/day was given orally for 3 weeks and off one week, repeated for 6 cycles. Fasting morning urine and blood samples were collected before
hormone treatment and at the end of 3 weeks, 11 weeks, and 23 weeks of
Premarin therapy. Serum total
estrogen level was measured by radioimmunoassay. Urinary
calcium and
creatinine were measured by atomic absorption and Jeffe's reaction, respectively. The concentration of urinary
hydroxyproline was determined by Kivirikko's method. After
Premarin therapy, the mean concentration of serum total
estrogen increased 3 to 4 times from the pretreatment level of 71.7 pg/ml. On the other hand, the mean value of
calcium/
creatinine (Ca/Cr) molar ratio dropped down from 0.249 to 0.098. The mean value of
hydroxyproline/
creatinine (HOPr/Cr) molar ratio was reduced from 0.028 to 0.012. In view of the hormonal and biochemical changes after
Premarin therapy, it is concluded that
estrogen (
Premarin) replacement should be effective in the treatment of enhanced bone loss or
osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. The relationship of
estrogen and
calcitonin in the regulation of bone metabolism is also discussed.