Download - T. Watson Jernigan, MD MA Chairman and Professor Department of Ob/Gyn Quillen College of Medicine
“THE EVOLVING USE OF ESTROGEN AND HORMONAL
THERAPY: WHAT I DO IN 2012”T. Watson Jernigan, MD MA
Chairman and ProfessorDepartment of Ob/Gyn
Quillen College of Medicine
Disclosure Statement of Financial Interest
DO NOT have a financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with one or more organizations that could be perceived as a real or
apparent conflict of interest in the context of the subject of this presentation.
“As a result of participating in this activity, the participant will be able to…”
…appreciate the impact of the W.H.I. on the treatment of Menopausal Symptoms
…demonstrate an understanding of subsequent studies reviewing the use of hormonal therapy
OBJECTIVES
…apply the principles of treatment based on current practice guidelines and position statements to current patients
…appreciate that the modality of therapy plays a marked role in the treatment of current menopausal patients
OBJECTIVES
This lecture is designed to evaluate the evolving use of hormones in postmenopausal patients since the publishing of the W.H.I. Study. It will discuss the evidence based medicine that has led this physician in his prescribing of hormonal therapy. It is hoped that this journey will impact the prescribing habits of other providers.
INTENT OF LECTURE
Use of estrogens can improve menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes (1940s)
Use of estrogens can cause thromboembolic phenomenon (1950s)
Use of estrogen can improve subjectively feminine sense of well being (1960s)
Use of unopposed estrogen can lead to endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer (1970s)
LESSONS LEARNED PRIOR TO 2000
According to records of prescriptions, there were 129 million prescriptions for Hormonal Therapy (HT) including estrogen in the year 2000
In 2001, a Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of Estrogen and Progestin as well as Estrogen alone in preventing heart disease in postmenopausal women
MENOPAUSE
After the 2002 WHI study was published approximately 65% of women on HT stopped therapy
In 2003, there were just over 76 million HT prescriptions dispensed
By 2008, this number had dropped to approximately 42 million prescriptions for HT in USA (29 million were for estrogen only RXs)
POST-WHI MENOPAUSE
“Trends in hormone therapy use before and after publication of the Women’s Health Initiative trial: 10 years of follow-up”
Published 2009 but showed the impact of the W.H.I. on European prescribing of estrogen in Barcelona, Spain
By 2007, there was a peak reduction of 89% in percentage of overall prevalence
Barbaglia, Gabriela MD, et al, Menopause Vol. 16, No. 9, 2009; 1061-1064
POST W.H.I. EFFECT
This was a retrospective cohort study of 300,000 inhabitants in Barcelona, Spain from 1998-2007
Women ages 50-69 years were evaluated The age groups evaluated were: 50-54; 55-
59; 60-64; and 65-69 In addition to prevalence, the percentage of
new users was also evaluated
POST W. H. I. EFFECT
Use of estrogen in postmenopausal patients should not be used in prevention of chronic illnesses especially cardiovascular disease
Use of estrogen if started should be considered early in Menopause (ages 50-59) for benefit of specific symptoms
Use of estrogen in postmenopausal patients is not for everyone
LESSONS LEARNED AFTER W. H. I.
“Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease by Age and Years Since Menopause”
Rossouw et al reviewed the original data of the WHI and created a secondary analysis
The study reviewed both arms of the trials (E2 + P4 and E2 alone)
Rossouw, J. E. et al JAMA 2007; 297: 1465-1477
YEAR 2007
In the combined trials, there were 396 cases of CVD and 327 cases of stroke in the hormone treated group
In the combined trials, there were 379 cases of CVD and 239 cases of stroke in the placebo group
For women with less than 10 years since Menopause, the RR was 0.76 95% CI 0.50-1.16
Rossouw, J. E. et al JAMA 2007; 297: 1465-1477
YEAR 2007
Rossouw et al stated, “These analyses, although not definitive, suggest that the health consequences of hormone therapy may vary by distance from menopause, with no apparent increase in CHD risk for women close to menopause, and particularly high risks in women who are distant from menopause and have vasomotor symptoms.”
Rossouw, J. E. et al JAMA 2007; 297: 1465-1477
YEAR 2007
Use of Alternative Therapies (e.g. black cohosh, soy, dong quai) have not been shown to have “statistically significant” improvement of VMS in postmenopausal women
Use of estrogen should be started at the lowest possible dosage
Use of estrogen by topical or non-oral route should be considered to avoid the First Pass Effect of the liver
LESSONS LEARNED 2012
Reviewing the literature, I have made several decisions
Lack of estrogen causes hot flashes, night sweats, and VMS
These VMS can be substantial and in certain patients cause a change in quality of life
The treatment for VMS is estrogen
IN 2012, WHAT DO I DO?
In patients who have undergone hysterectomy, I discuss the use of estrogen for severe VMS and other quality of life issues
Given the difficulty with Alternative Therapies and the First Pass Effect of the Liver, I discuss extensively non-oral approach to treatment
Use of patch, cream, gel, lotion, and vaginal ring are legitimate treatments
IN 2012, WHAT DO I DO?
If the patient is agreeable, I start with the lowest dosage possible for four (4) weeks
After 4 weeks, I see the patient in follow-up to discuss the effectiveness of treatment
It will take upwards of two weeks to see improvement of the number or the intensity of the VMS for the patient
If there is excellent control of the VMS, the patient is seen in three months
IN 2012, WHAT DO I DO?
In patients who have severe atrophic vaginitis and have reservations about use of systemic estrogen, then I offer topical vaginal estrogen either by cream or tablet
In some patients who are already on systemic estrogen for VMS but continue to have problems with severe atrophic vaginitis, I will supplement with topical vaginal estrogen
IN 2012, WHAT DO I DO?
Once a patient is stabilized on the estrogen for VMS/Quality of Life issues, she is seen at 6 months and then 12 months
Every year she returns for her annual examination including pap smear and mammogram, a discussion regarding the use of estrogen is done
New information from the literature is given to the patient and discussion regarding continuation of therapy commences
IN 2012, WHAT DO I DO?
In patients who have not had a hysterectomy (have an intact uterus), the discussion regarding therapy is more extensive
The patient is specifically explained about the WHI and the risk of breast cancer
The severity of the VMS is weighed against the concerns generated for breast cancer
If patient wishes to proceed, she is started on estrogen alone first
IN 2012, WHAT DO I DO?
The same principles for starting estrogen (lowest dosage, non-oral) are followed
The patient is continued on increasing dosages of estrogen until her VMS are stabilized
Once the VMS are treated, then progestin/natural progesterone is added to prevent endometrial stimulation
IN 2012, WHAT DO I DO?
In neither scenario do I obtain Serum Estradiol Levels or for that matter LH/FSH unless patient is uncertain she is postmenopausal
I do not do pretreatment endometrial biopsy or transvaginal ultrasound
I do mandate a pretreatment mammogram for determining occult breast cancer/ breast calcifications
IN 2012, WHAT DO I DO?
After a patient has been on either estrogen alone or estrogen with progesterone for greater than one year, I talk seriously about decreasing the amount of medication or even stopping the medication
If VMS recur, then the patient will resume at her previous treatment dosages
Most patients use the hormonal therapy for an average of 3-4 years
IN 2012, WHAT DO I DO?
CONCLUSIONS“OR WHAT DO I REALLY THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN”
RELATIVE RISK CHARACTERISTIC◦ 14 2 FAMILY MEMBERS WITH BREAST CA◦ 2.2 1 FAMILY MEMBER WITH BREAST CA◦ 1.8 OBESITY◦ 1.6 YOUNG AGE AT MENARCHE◦ 1.3 >30 AT BIRTH OF FIRST CHILD◦ 0.7 MENOPAUSE <49 YEARS OF AGE
◦ 1.3 HORMONE THERAPY (E+P)<5 YEARS
Archer, David. “Postmenopausal HRT: What is fact, what is fiction” OBG MANAGEMENT; June 2006: 76-85.
A FINAL THOUGHT