Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS)

Introduction

Study characteristics:

• 4-year randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial
• > 700 women within three years of menopause (mean age 52)
• sutdy participants with no evidence of cardiovascular disease

Treatment groups:

• oral conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin) 0.45 mg/day (lower than the 0.625 mg/day used in WHI)
• transdermal estradiol (Climara) 50 micrograms/day
• placebo
• estrogen recipients also received 200 mg of micronized progesterone (Prometrium) for 12 days each month vs a 2nd placebo (presumptively)

Results:

• estrogen-progesterone treatment started soon after menopause
  • relieves menopausal symptoms of hot flashes & night sweats
  • improves mood
  • improves bone mineral density
  • improves sexual function
  • no effect on cognitive function
  • premarin group with
    • slight increase in HDL cholesterol
    • slight decrease in LDL cholesterol
    • increase in serum triglycerides
    • increase in serum CRP
  • transdermal estrogen group
    • no effect on HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, serum triglycerides, or serum CRP
    • improved glycemic control

More general terms

• clinical trial