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In order to assess the effects and acceptability of transdermal estradiol on the prevention of the loss of bone mass, the Authors administered transdermal estradiol (ETTS 50 mcgr/day) for 3 weeks and, cyclically, medroxyprogesterone 10/mg/day from day 10 to day 21 of each cycle for 12 months, to 20 operated patients for bilateral ovariectomy. Primary markers of the bone turnover (hydroxyproline urinary, osteocalcin, PTH) were estimated before therapy and after 3, 6, 9, 12 months. The BMD was evaluated before therapy and after 6 and 12 months. Our study clearly shows that the transdermal administration of estradiol prevents the postmenopausal bone loss, also in postmenopausal women at higher risk of developing osteoporosis as those evaluated in our study.

The most important factor responsible for osteoporosis postmenopausal is the loss of the oestrogen. For this reason we have estimated the modifications of the bone turnover in the operated patients for bilateral ovariectomy in fertile age by study of the BMD (bone mineral density) and of the various biohumoral parameters that are involved in the process of bone remodelling urinary hydroxyproline, osteocalcin). Our research consists of two phases. I phase: we have conducted a transverse study on a group of 43 patients subdivided in 3 subgroups on the basis of the years elapsed since they were operated. II phase: it is a longitudinal study. We have observed 6 women. We have estimated the turnover before the operation (T0) at (T1), at 30 (T2), at 90 (T3) and at 180 (T4) days from the operation. The results show that the sudden and rapid decrease of the oestrogenic rate determines a sudden increase of the bone turnover. The activity of the osteoblastic line is faster, the activity of osteoblastic line is slower. The beginning of the loss of the bone mass is about the 7% already at six months (longitudinal study), the loss of bone mass reaches the maximum within the first 2-3 years (about 16%) from the operation (transverse study).