HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by POLO-KANTOLA, P. Articles by POLO, O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by POLO-KANTOLA, P. Articles by POLO, O.

Estrogen Replacement Therapy and Nocturnal Periodic Limb Movements: A Randomized Controlled Trial

From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Clinical Chemistry, Turku University Central Hospital, and the Department of Physiology, University of Turku, Turku; and the Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Satakunta Central Hospital, Pori, Finland.

Address reprint requests to: Päivi Polo-Kantola, MD, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Central Hospital, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland, E-mail: paivi.polo-kantola{at}tyks.fi

Objective: To evaluate the effect of estrogen replacement therapy on nocturnal periodic limb movements in a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

Methods: Seventy-one healthy postmenopausal women volunteered in answer to a newspaper announcement; 62 women completed the follow-up. Frequency of nocturnal body movements was measured with the static-charge-sensitive bed and all-night polysomnographic recordings. Serum estradiol (E2) and FSH concentrations were also measured at baseline and after each treatment period. The power of the study setup was 94%.

Results: Nearly half the women presented with episodes of periodic limb movements (30 of 62 women, or 48%, during placebo and 27, or 44%, during estrogen therapy). In 17 (27%) during placebo and 19 (31%) during estrogen therapy, frequency of periodic limb movements exceeded index level 5 per hour while subjects were in bed. Incidence or intensity of movements, movement durations, and movement intervals did not change with estrogen therapy. The arousal index was similar during the two treatments (medians = 1.7 for placebo and 1.3 for estrogen, P = .758). Variations in serum E2 concentration, age, and body mass index did not explain variations in movement activity.

Conclusion: Estrogen replacement therapy in doses used to control climacteric symptoms does not alter the incidence or intensity of nocturnal periodic limb movements.