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OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the augmentation of venlafaxine with hormone therapy in the treatment of postmenopausal depression. The hormones evaluated were estrogen (0.625 mg) in combination with medroxyprogesterone acetate (2.5 mg) and methyltestosterone (2.5 mg). DESIGN Seventy-two menopausal women (mean age: 53.6 +/- 4.27 years) diagnosed with depression (Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale [MADRS] scores > or = 20) were treated with venlafaxine and one of the following hormone therapy combinations, in a double-blind regimen: estrogen + medroxyprogesterone + methyltestosterone (group 1, n = 20); estrogen + medroxyprogesterone acetate (group 2, n = 20); methyltestosterone only (group 3, n = 16); and no hormone therapy (group 4, n = 16). Study duration was 24 weeks. Primary efficacy outcome was remission according to the MADRS, whereas secondary efficacy measures included the Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Blatt-Kupperman Index, and Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ). RESULTS Forty-eight patients completed the study. All groups showed significant improvement from baseline. Group 3 demonstrated significant improvement on the MADRS compared with placebo (group 4) at weeks 20 (P = 0.048) and 24 (P = 0.030); effect size 8.04 (0.83; 15.26) (P = 0.029), but also had the highest dropout rate. Groups 1 and 3 had significant CGI improvement rates compared with placebo: 42.23% (P = 0.012) and 44.45% (P = 0.08), respectively. There were no differences in the WHQ or BKI scores among the groups. CONCLUSIONS Methyltestosterone 2.5 mg had the highest effect size compared with placebo, but the high dropout rate prevented its efficacy from being determined. Estrogen plus medroxyprogesterone, combined with methyltestosterone or otherwise, demonstrated a trend toward increased efficacy of venlafaxine. Further larger-scale clinical trials are needed to elucidate the findings of this pilot study.

To compare the effect of conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) and raloxifene on lipid profile and hemostasis.A double-blind, randomized and parallel study was performed with 90 healthy postmenopausal women, aged 54 +/- 5 years, divided into three groups and submitted to daily therapy with either CEE 0.625 mg, raloxifene 60 mg or placebo for 4 months. The lipid profile, coagulation and fibrinolytic factors were analyzed.CEE increased the levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) from 49.0 to 56.8 mg/dl (p0.001), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) from 17.2 to 22.3 mg/dl (p0.001), and triglycerides from 86.0 to 111.7 mg/dl (p0.001), and decreased the levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from 121.0 to 106.5 mg/dl (p0.001). The only significant effect of raloxifene was an increase in the levels of HDL-C from 46.0 to 47.8 mg/dl (p = 0.019). There was no significant reduction in LDL-C, from 115.5 to 110.2 mg/dl (p = 0.06), VLDL-C, from 21.7 to 20.0 mg/dl (p = 0.201), and triglycerides, from 108 to 100 mg/dl (p = 0.201). CEE decreased the levels of fibrinogen, from 370.5 to 326.8 g/l (p = 0.039) and the levels of antithrombin III, from 99.5 to 93.2% (p0.001). Raloxifene decreased the levels of fibrinogen, from 354.7 to 302.0 g/l (p = 0.009) and the levels of antithrombin III, from 102.4 to 98.5% (p = 0.039). CEE increased levels of protein C from 103.7 to 115.3 mg/l (p0.001) and raloxifene did not change the levels of protein C (107.9 to 105.1 mg/l; p = 0.158). CEE decreased the antigen levels of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) from 8.8 to 6.8 U/ml (p0.001), and of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) from 30.8 to 21.6 U/ml (p0.010), whereas raloxifene had no significant effect on either t-PA, from 9.6 to 9.2 U/ml (p = 0.235) or PAI-1 antigen levels, from 32.1 to 30.4 U/ml (p = 0.538). CONCLUSION Both CEE and raloxifene exert significant effects on the lipid and coagulation profile. CEE had a more significant effect on fibrinolysis than raloxifene. These effects may have a significant impact on the cardiovascular risk that needs to be confirmed in larger studies.

Objetivos: avaliar os resultados da embolização das artérias uterinas (EAU) como tratamento do leiomioma uterino. Métodos: foram estudadas 18 mulheres com diagnóstico ultra-sonográfico de leiomioma uterino submetidas à EAU com partículas de álcool polivinílico (PVA). O acesso arterial foi realizado por punção da artéria femoral e a progressão do cateter foi monitorada até atingir seletivamente as artérias uterinas. A avaliação dos resultados foi realizada pelo estudo ultra-sonográfico antes e três meses após o procedimento. Foi realizado controle clínico evolutivo para avaliação das características menstruais e do volume uterino. Resultados: houve insucesso técnico em três casos por dificuldade de cateterização das artérias uterinas. O sangramento e a dismenorréia foram controlados no intervalo de três meses em 86 e 60% das pacientes, respectivamente. A média dos volumes uterinos iniciais foi de 381 cm³ e após 3 meses foi de 263 cm³. Houve redução média de 27,4% no volume uterino três meses após o tratamento. Três pacientes tiveram insuficiência ovariana clínica e laboratorial (20% dos casos). Conclusões: a EAU representa alternativa terapêutica para o tratamento dos leiomiomas uterinos. Em virtude do risco de insuficiência ovariana esse procedimento é reservado para pacientes com mais de 45 anos de idade ou com prole completa.

INTRODUÇÃO: O tratamento estrogênico isolado e contínuo por seis meses é uma opção no tratamento de sintomas climatéricos. A monitorização endometrial deve ser realizada rotineiramente; nela, a ultra-sonografia (US) e a biópsia uterina têm papel importante. A US e a Dopplervelocimetria também avaliam as mudanças circulatórias uterinas. OBJETIVO: Estudar o comportamento da vascularização uterina e do endométrio em mulheres na pós-menopausa tratadas com estrógeno contínuo por seis meses, seguido de progestógeno isolado por 14 dias, e estabelecer suas relações com a proliferação endometrial. MÉTODO: Estudo clínico, prospectivo e controlado, onde quarenta mulheres na pós-menopausa, sem contraindicações para tratamento hormonal (TH). Foram divididas em dois grupos: Estrógeno e Controle. As do Grupo Estrógeno (GE), n= 24, receberam 50 mcg de estradiol-17 beta (E2) transdérmico, duas vezes por semana, durante seis meses. As mulheres do Grupo Controle (GC), n=16, não receberam TH. Todas realizaram FSH, E2 e glicemia de jejum; US transvaginal; Dopplervelocimetria das artérias uterinas, miometriais e endometriais e biópsia aspirativa de endométrio. O GE repetiu os mesmos exames, com exceção de FSH, E2 e glicemia, no terceiro e no sexto mês de tratamento. No GC, a biópsia do endométrio foi repetida apenas no sexto mês de tratamento. As mulheres do GE utilizaram, ao fim de seis meses, 10 mg de acetato de medroxiprogesterona por dia, durante 14 dias. RESULTADOS: No GE, a resistência vascular das artérias uterinas diminuiu no terceiro e no sexto mês de tratamento. O fluxo miometrial das artérias arqueadas aumentou significantemente no sexto mês de tratamento. O aumento da espessura do endométrio ocorreu de forma significante no terceiro mês. No GE houve hiperplasia endometrial simples e sem atipias em 20,8 % das mulheres. No GE, comparando as mulheres que tiveram proliferação com aquelas que mantiveram a atrofia endometrial, observou-se que, no sexto mês de tratamento, o grupo que apresentou proliferação teve diminuição significante da resistência vascular da artéria uterina esquerda, enquanto no grupo que manteve a atrofia, a resistência vascular aumentou na artéria uterina direita. No GC não ocorreu variação da resistência vascular das artérias uterinas bilaterais; o fluxo miometrial das artérias arqueadas não se modificou e não houve proliferação endometrial. CONCLUSÃO: A terapia estrogênica isolada por seis meses diminuiu a resistência vascular das artérias uterinas bilateralmente. A proliferação endometrial precedeu o aumento de vascularização miometrial. Houve associação entre a proliferação endometrial e a diminuição da resistência vascular na artéria uterina esquerda, no final do sexto mês de tratamento estrogênico INTRODUCTION: Isolated continuous estrogen therapy for 6 months is an option to manage climacteric symptoms. Endometrial monitoring should be performed as a routine, in which ultrasound and uterine biopsy have an important role. Ultrasound with Dopplervelocimetry also assesses uterine circulatory changes. OBJECTIVE: To study the uterine circulatory changes of women in continuous estrogen therapy for 6 months using Doppler velocimetry and to define correlations with endometrial proliferation. METHOD: Clinical prospective controlled study. Forty menopause women were studied, without contraindications to hormone therapy (HT). They were divided into 2 groups: Estrogen and Control. In the Estrogen Group (EG) n = 24, they were treated with transdermal 50mcg estradiol-17 beta (E2), changed twice a week for 6 months. Women in the Control Group (CG) n=16, were not treated with hormones. They all underwent FSH, E2, fast glucose, transvaginal ultrasound , uterine, myometrial and endometrial artery Dopplervelocimetry and aspiration biopsy of endometrium. The EG repeated the same procedures in months 3 and 6 of treatment. In CG, endometrial biopsy was repeated only in the 6th month of treatment. At the end of treatment, EG women received 10 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate per day for 14 days. RESULTS: In EG, vascular resistance of uterine arteries reduced in the 3rd and 6th months of treatment. Myometrial flow of arcuate arteries was significantly increased in the 6th month of treatment. Increased endometrial thickness was significant in the 3rd month. In EG, the authors detected simple endometrial hyperplasia without atypias in 20.8% of the subjects. In EG, in the 6th month of treatment, upon comparing women who had proliferation and those who maintained the endometrial atrophy, we observed that the group that presented proliferation had significant reduction of vascular resistance of left uterine artery, whereas the group that maintained atrophy had increase in vascular resistance of right uterine artery. In CG, there was no vascular resistance modification, no myometrial flow diference and no endometrial proliferation. CONCLUSION: Isolated estrogen therapy for 6 months reduced vascular resistance of bilateral uterine arteries. Morphological affections to the endometrium preceded myometrial vascular abnormalities. There was association of endometrial proliferation and reduction of vascular resistance of the left uterine artery in the 6th month of estrogen treatment

A 34-yr-old nulliparous black woman presented with hair loss, facial hirsutism, irregular menses and infertility associated with greatly increased serum total testosterone levels. The adrenal glands and the ovaries were normal on radiological and ultrasonographic investigation. Catheterization of the veins draining from the adrenal glands and the ovaries yielded testosterone levels of 20.3 nmol/L and 20.0 nmol/L in the right and the left adrenal veins, respectively, and 17.9 nmol/L and 27.4 nmol/L in the right and left ovaries venous plexus, respectively. Sequencial dexamethasone and ethynyl estradiol suppression test showed a decrease in cortisol level with no change in total testosterone level on dexamethasone while an increase in testosterone from 10.5 nmol/L to 20.1 nmol/L was observed ten days after ethynil estradiol had been associated to dexamethasone. When a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (gonadorelin 3.5 mg i.m.) was administered for 2 months, serum gonadotropins levels decreased to less than 2 IU/L, total testosterone to 3.8 nmol/L and estradiol to less than 36 pmol/L. The patient was submitted to a pelvic exploratory laparotomy and a left salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. A solid and circumscribed ovarian tumor of 1.0 cm in diameter was found. The pathological diagnosis was a Leydig cell tumor with surrounding stromal hyperplasia. These findings may suggest that this tumor was gonadotropin-dependent being indirectly stimulated by ethynil estradiol, through a sensitization of the pituitary gonadotropes and increase in gonadotropin levels and suppressed by a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist.

(2002). Thrombophilic profile of climacteric and menopausal women with venous thromboembolism. Climacteric: Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 87-89.

The efficacy of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) for mood disturbances associated with menopause has yet to be firmly established. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of ERT for improving mood and anxiety of non-depressive postmenopausal women. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study involved two treatment groups: one receiving conjugated equine estrogens (CEEs; 0.625 mg/day) and the other placebo, for six cycles of 28 days each. Subjects were hysterectomized, healthy, non-depressive (according to Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, Life Time Version [SADS-L]) women. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), respectively. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) and other scales were used to characterize symptoms. In both groups, BDI scores were significantly lower at cycles 1, 2, 3, and 6, compared with baseline assessments (p

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of estrogen replacement therapy on verbal cognitive performance of middle-aged postmenopausal women. Middle-aged (40 to 59 years) hysterectomized, oligosymptomatic women receiving 0.625 mg/day of conjugated equine estrogens (N = 27) or placebo (N = 32) in a double-blind parallel group design were compared according to their performance on a verbal memory battery before and after six 28-day cycles of treatment. Both groups had similar age and educational level. The estrogen group performed better on digit span-forward and on the recall of the easy stimuli on the verbal-paired associates test regardless of age, education, physical symptoms, number of years of menopause, or blood estradiol levels. However, the small magnitude of difference in the effect on attentional span suggests that the estrogen-related improvement is unlikely to be of clinical relevance. Estrogen replacement therapy did not improve verbal memory in middle-aged, hysterectomized, postmenopausal, asymptomatic women.

A resposta da 17-hidroxiprogesterona (17OHP) ao estímulo agudo com um análogo do hormônio liberador de gonadotrofinas (GnRHa) e sua relação com a sensibilidade à insulina (SI) foi avaliada em 8 mulheres voluntárias normais e obesas (grupo N), com idades entre 24 e 40 anos (mediana de 29) e índice de massa corpóreo (IMC) entre 32,0 e 46,5kg/m² (mediana de 35,7) e 8 pacientes portadoras da síndrome dos ovários policísticos (grupo SOP) com idades entre 19 e 28 anos (mediana de 26) e IMC entre 30,1 e 40,1kg/m² (mediana de 35,8), submetidas a estímulo agudo com acetato de leuprolide, 10µg/kg SC e a teste de tolerância oral à glicose (TTOG). Observou-se aumento significativo da concentração de 17OHP, tanto no grupo N (1,5 vs. 2,9ng/mL; p= 0,023) quanto no grupo SOP (0,8 vs. 3,1ng/mL; p= 0,007), não havendo diferença significativa entre os grupos. A SI foi avaliada através da área sob a curva de insulina (ASCI) no TTOG. O grupo N apresentou ASCI significativamente menor que o grupo SOP (14.384 vs. 22.800µUI/mL/min, p= 0,04). Não houve correlação entre a concentração de 17OHP após estímulo e a ASCI. The response of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) to gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) acute stimulation and its relationship to insulin sensitivity (IS) were evaluated in 8 normal obese voluntary women (group N), aged 24 to 40 years (median 29) and body mass index (BMI) of 32.0 to 46.5kg/m² (median of 35.7), and 8 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (group PCOS) aged 19 to 28 years (median of 26) and BMI of 30.1 to 40.1kg/m² (median of 35.8), submitted to an acute stimulation with leuprolide acetate 10µg/kg and to am oral glucose tolerance test. We observed a significant increase of 17OHP levels in group N (1.5 vs. 2.9ng/mL; p= 0.023) as well as in group PCOS (0.8 vs. 3.1ng/mL; p = 0.007), with no significant difference between both groups. The area under the curve of insulin (AUCI) was significantly less in the group N (14,384 vs. 22,800mUI/mL/min, p= 0,04). There was no correlation between 17OHP and the AUCI.

Objectives: To evaluate the results of the uterine artery embolization (UAE) for the treatment of uterine fibroids. Methods: Twenty-six patients with ultrasonographic diagnosis of uterine leiomyomata were submitted to UAE with polyvinyl alcohol particles. Imaging and clinical follow-up was performed before the procedure, at 3 months, and 1 year after. Results: All procedures but one were technically successful. Control of menorrhagia and pelvic pain were reported after UAE by 87.5% and 84.2% of patients, respectively. The initial medium uterine volume was 385 cm3, after 3 months 255 cm3 and after 1 year 202 cm3. The mean uterine volume decrease was 29% after 3 months and 41% after 1 year of follow-up (P

A síntese dos hormônios sexuais no organismo apresenta duas vias principais comuns aos órgãos secretores. A via progesterona-androstenediona é preferencial nas gônadas e placenta, ao passo que a via pregnenolona-deidroepiandrosterona é preferencial nas adrenais.

Using experiments with conjugated hormones, and their influence on vascular permeability assessed by the colloidal carbon technique, we have investigated the effect of female sex steroids on the microcirculation of the uterine horn of virgin rats. We found that oestrogen inhibited vascular permeability in inflammatory conditions. Progesterone increased vascular permeability.

THE TRANSVAGINAL needle biopsy, by which peritoneal tissue from the cul-de-sac of Douglas can be obtained for histological examination, is a new approach to the diagnosis of obscure pelvic affections. The needle for peritoneal biopsy,* devised by one of us,2 consists of the following parts: (1) a cannula, measuring 2.5 mm. in diameter and 130 mm. in length, with a sharp cutting edge and at its proximal end a disc which facilitates the handling of the instrument; (2) a pointed stylet; (3) a biopsy mandrin fitting into the cannula, surpassing it for 8 mm., and having at the end part a lateral groove with a sharp cutting edge. After the usual aseptic precautions and infiltration of the vaginal septum with a local anesthetic, a No. 20 gauge needle is inserted into the cul-de-sac of Douglas. If there. is no fluid in the pelvic cavity, about 300 ml. of normal

INTRODUÇÃO - A síndrome dos ovários policísticos (SOP) é uma das mais controversas entidades da endocrinologia ginecológica. Após o simpósio de Rotterdam, em 2003, ficou evidente a importância da morfologia ovariana para o diagnóstico e para a composição dos fenótipos. A ultra-sonografia transvaginal com dopplervelocimetria pode ajudar a analisar as variáveis implicadas na vascularização e a monitorar os ovários. OBJETIVO - Avaliar o volume, a espessura do estroma e a vascularização dos ovários de mulheres com SOP. MÉTODO - Estudo prospectivo com cinqüenta mulheres que foram divididas em dois grupos (grupo SOP: n=30 e grupo Normal: n=20) e submetidas à ultra-sonografia transvaginal com Dopplervelocimetria, entre o terceiro e sexto dias do ciclo menstrual, para a avaliação do volume e da espessura do estroma do ovário e dos índices de resistência (IR) e pulsatilidade (IP) nas artérias uterinas, artérias ovarianas e vasos do estroma. RESULTADOS - No grupo SOP, o volume ovariano e a espessura do estroma ovariano foram significativamente maiores. Também o IR e o IP das artérias uterinas e ovarianas foram significativamente maiores. Já o IR e o IP dos vasos do estroma foram significativamente menores no grupo SOP, em comparação com o grupo Normal. CONCLUSÃO - As mulheres com SOP, em relação às mulheres normais, têm aumento do volume e da espessura do estroma dos ovários. Também apresentam diminuição do fluxo ovariano; porém, com aumento da vascularização do estroma. INTRODUCTION: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most controversial conditions in gynecological endocrinology. After the symposium in Rotterdam in 2003, the importance of ovary morphology has become evident for the diagnosis and the composition of phenotypes. Transvaginal ultrasound with Doppler velocimetry can help us analyze the variables implied in vascularization and monitor the ovaries of women with PCOS. METHOD: Prospective study with 50 women who were divided into 2 groups (PCOS group: n=30 and Normal group = 20), submitted to transvaginal ultrasound with doppler velocimetry between the third and sixth day of the monthly period to assess size and thickness of ovarian stroma and index of resistance (IR) and pulsatility (IP) of uterine arteries, ovarian arteries and stromal vessels. RESULTS: In the PCOS group, ovarian size and thickness of ovarian stroma were significantly greater. Uterine and ovarian arteries IR and IP were significantly higher. IR and IP of stromal vessels were significantly lower in the PCOS group relative to the Normal group. CONCLUSION: PCOS female patients compared to normal women have increase size and thickness of ovarian stroma. They also present reduced ovarian flow, but there is increased vascularization of the stroma.