Menstrual Cycle & Sex Hormone Profile/ Perimenopausal Women After Liver Tx

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Menstrual Cycle and Sex

Hormone Profile in Perimenopausal Women After Liver Transplantation

Z. Jabiry-Zienjewicz, P.

Kaminski, K. Bobrowska, B. Pietrzak, M. Wielgo, K. Zieniewicz and M. Krawczyk

1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The

Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

Department of General and Liver Surgery, The Medical

University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

Available online 15 November

2006.

Abstract

Excellent long-term outcomes of transplant patients

let many female liver-recipients experience perimenopausal

problems. This study assessed menstrual patterns and

sex hormone profiles in women of perimenopausal age

who experienced end-stage liver failure treated by transplantation (OLT).

Materials

and methods

Menstrual

patterns, sex hormone profiles, and biochemical parameters of liver function

were analyzed before and after OLT in 13 liver-transplanted patients of perimenopausal age. Nineteen

healthy perimenopausal women served as controls.

Results

The most

common abnormality of the menstrual cycle observed in the study group was

secondary amenorrhea, which affected six liver-transplanted women. Three months after OLT amenorrhea was still observed in

six patients, regular menstrual cycles in six and irregular bleeding in one

graft recipient. One year after transplantation

regular menstruations were noted in four, irregular bleeding in four, and

secondary amenorrhea in five liver-transplanted women. Similar

levels of follicle stimulating hormone, luetinizing

hormone, prolactin, progesterone and testosterone as

well as lower levels of estradiol and DHEA-sulfate

were observed in patients with liver failure, both before and after grafting,

compared with healthy women. After OLT E2

levels increased from 32.05 ± 18.04 to 49.12 ± 22.21.

Conclusions

One year

after OLT disturbances in menstrual patterns affect most (69%) perimenopausal female liver recipients. Both

before and after OLT significantly lower levels of estradiol

and DHEA-S were observed in transplanted patients compared with healthy

controls. Hormonal therapy of amenorrhea or irregular

menstruations may be required in that group of patients.