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Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS)
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
General
clinical trial