Hormonal replacement therapy in women with Turner's syndrome in Poland: Analysis of 176 cases

Abstract

Aim. Turner syndrome (TS) is one of the forms of gonadal malfunction. The study aims at the analysis of hypophysis-gonad axis (HGA) of women with TS who use and do not use hormonal replacement therapy (HRT).

Method. One hundred and seventy-six Poles with TS were investigated in the years 1995–2004. The information about the application of HRT was given during the interview. The HGA was examined by the estimation of gonadotropin (FSH, LH) and 17β-estradiol (E₂) levels.

Results. HRT was administered to 89% of women with TS at some point of their life. However, at the time of writing this report only 54% of them have been taking this drug. The variety of hormonal preparations used by the patients was great. In women with TS using the HRT, in contradiction to women with TS who do not use it, lower concentrations of FSH (32.1 ± 22.1 vs. 44.2 ± 23.3 IU/l) and LH (20.8 ± 17.5 vs. 26.6 ± 18.1 IU/l) as well as higher level of E₂ (135.5 ± 147.9 vs. 89.9 ± 100.6 pmol/l) were observed. The negative correlation between E₂ and FSH levels was not observed in women with TS using HRT, despite the elevation of 17β-estradiol levels and the reduction of gonadotropin concentration.

Conclusions: (1) Large percentage of women with TS does not use HRT. (2) Women with TS, who receive HRT, use this method of treatment insufficiently.

Keywords:

• Turner syndrome
• women
• gonadotropin
• estradiol
• hormonal replacement therapy