Effect of combined oral contraceptives with estrogen identical to natural estrogen on the metabolic profile and body composition in females during the menopausal transition

Aim. To study the effect of combined oral contraceptives (COC) with estrogen identical to natural estrogen on the metabolic profile and body composition in females during the menopausal transition. Materials and methods. Females in the menopausal transition who needed contraception were divided into two groups. Group 1 (19 patients) received COCs containing estradiol valerate/dienogest (E2V/DNG) with a dynamic dosing regimen; Group 2 (19 patients) received monophasic COCs containing 17-estradiol/nomegestrol acetate (E2/NOMAC) for 6 months. Blood pressure (BP), parameters of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, leptin, adiponectin, C-reactive protein, uric acid, and body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were assessed initially and after the 6 months of therapy. Results. No significant changes in weight and body composition after 6 months of COC use were found in both groups. COCs with E2V/DNG had no significant effect on BP and all assessed metabolic parameters. Females taking COCs with E2/NOMAC showed increased fasting glucose of 4.85 (0.43) and 5.30 (0.37) mmol/L (p=0.002), insulin of 4.97 (2.35) and 8.82 (4.67) U/mL (p=0.012), NOMA index of 1.06 (0.54) and 1.88 (0.75); p=0.010 compared to baseline. However, the parameters remained within the reference values. Conclusion. COCs containing estrogens identical to natural estrogens do not affect body composition and have no significant adverse effect on BP and metabolic parameters in females during the menopausal transition, indicating that the use of these agents is acceptable from the perspective of their metabolic effects in this group of patients

The experience of sibutramine administration in patients with obesity and controlled arterial hypertension

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a metabolic disorder that becomes epidemic. Visceral adiposity increases the risk of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and other comorbidities. According to this, the main aim of obesity treatment is not only a weight loss but also a decrease of the risk of comorbidities. AIMS: to assess the efficiency and safety of sibutramine in patients with obesity and arterial hypertension, to evaluate the drug influence on epicardial fat thickness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 57 patients aged 35-60 with obesity and arterial hypertension were included in the study. All patients at the beginning and after 7 months of follow-up underwent complex examination including anthropometric measurement, ECG, office and ambulatory blood pressure measurement, echocardiography. Patients with controlled arterial hypertension were included. During the first month of follow-up patients were given general weight loss recommendations. Then sibutramine was added. Control visits to assess efficiency and safety of drug treatment were held after 1 and 6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Women predominated among the study participants. Visceral adiposity was approved by anthropometric measurements among all patients. Most patients had impaired left ventricle geometry: concentric remodeling or hypertrophy. During the first month of follow-up the weight loss was mild: 2 kg (less than 2%) in average. Sibutramine for 1 month the weight loss increased: 3.7 kg (more than 2%) in average. After 6 months of drug administration the weight loss of patients consisted 8.6 kg (6.2%) in average. According to echocardiography results indexed mass of LV myocardium decreased in all patients more significantly in women. Also in this group of patients significant decrease of epicardial fat thickness was revealed. Adverse events of sibutramine were revealed in 26.3% of patients. The most frequent were constipation (12.3%) and dry mouth (10.6%). The severity of symptoms persisted for 1 month and then decreased, additional therapy was not required. CONCLUSIONS: Sibutramine treatment of obesity promotes effective weight loss, influences the adipose tissue distribution, decreases the progress of associated comorbidities. Sibutramine is an effective and safe drug that can be used in patients with visceral adiposity and controlled arterial hypertension

Long-term treatment options for postmenopausal osteoporosis: results of recent clinical studies of Denosumab

Modern medications for osteoporosis (bisphosphonates, denosumab, teriparatide) are well-tolerated drugs, which can significantly lower vertebral and non-vertebral fracture risk according to prospective and observational studies in up to 10-year period. Certain drugs (denosumab, teriparatide) are active only during the treatment period and do not prevent bone loss and fracture risk after discontinuation, while such protective effect is observed in bisphosphonates. Despite impressive success of continuous 10-year denosumab treatament of severe osteoporosis, some of the recently published data suggest that vertebral fracture incidence is increased after treatment discontinuation, along with multiple vertebral fracture incidence, especially in patients with previous fractures. Issues of osteoporosis treatment duration, sequential use of osteoporosis drugs and criteria for treatment discontinuation are now in focus of attention. European Medicines Agency (EMA) and European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS) considered these issues in 2017. ЕМА considered fractures after denosumab discontinuation as a natural disease course and did not recommend any changes in product instruction. The main conclusion of ECTS is that the possibility of multiple fractures development after denosumab discontinuation exists, however, there is still not enough firm evidence, as well as effective countermeasures. Clinicians and patients should be aware of potential risk. Both EMA and ECTS suggest considering denosumab treatment or discontinuation after 5-year treatment period or possibly replacing with bisphosphonates. Recent data suggest that prolonged osteoporosis treatment can be done in accordance with the concept of treatment until target goal (for example, achievement of femoral T-score -2.0SD and higher). In our review, we focus on recent data concerning the issues stated above. This topic was also discussed on Russian Osteoporosis Association (ROA) expert meeting in Saint Petersburg on 24 may 2018, chaired by ROA president, professor Olga Lesnyak and Columbia University professor, J.P. Bilezikian. As a result, an Expert Council resolution was written and introduced in the article