Serum lipids and lipoproteins in patients with endometrial carcinoma receiving adjuvant treatment with hydroxyprogesterone caproate

Abstract

Serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol were determined in 57 patients who were undergoing treatment for stage I endometrial carcinoma. The patients belonged to a clinical trial where group A (control) was treated with surgery plus intravaginal irradiation, whereas group B in addition was treated with hydroxyprogesterone caproate (5000 mg i.m. as a loading dose followed by 1000 mg every 2 weeks for one year). In group B patients followed during the first 13 weeks of treatment, the level of serum triglycerides remained stable, whereas the level of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol increased significantly. This increase could not, however, have been caused by the progestogen treatment, as similar changes were seen in group A patients followed for the same period of time. Long-term effects were looked for in patient groups examined 3-12 months after the start of treatment and in groups examined 3-6 months after the hormone therapy was stopped. In neither group could any significant difference in cholesterol or HDL-cholesterol be found. It is concluded that this type of progestogen treatment causes no significant change in the levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol.