Pharmacokinetics of estradiol and estrone following repeated administration of Menorest®, a new estrogen transdermal delivery system, in menopausal women

The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of estradiol and estrone, at steady-state, after repeated applications of Menorest® delivering 0.025, 0.050 and 0.100 mg estradiol daily, and to determine the plasma concentration/administered dose relationship. It was an open randomised crossover study, with 3 treatment periods of 10.5 days separated by two 12-day intervening washout periods. Randomisation was conducted according to a latin square design. The clinical part of the study was carried out at CAP (Centre d'Activite Pharmacologique), Montpellier, and plasma estradiol and estrone concentrations were determined at CEPHAC (Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche en Pharmacie Clinique), St Benoit, France. The study included 30 healthy postmenopausal women, volunteers aged between 42 and 70 years (mean 59.13 ± 6.90 years). Each transdermal system dosage was applied for 3 successive 3.5-day wear periods (10.5 days) on the lower abdominal skin. Plasma estradiol and estrone concentrations were measured at steady-state, before and after the third application of each transdermal system dosage at regular intervals over 106 hours. Cutaneous tolerance was assessed after each transdermal system removal. After the third application of patches releasing 0.025, 0.050 and 0.100 mg/day, a linear relationship was established between the administered dose and the estradiol pharmacokinetic parameters [area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to 84 hours (AUC(0-84h)), maximum plasma concentration (C(max)), minimum plasma concentration (C(min)) and average plasma concentration (C(av))]. This relationship did not exist between plasma estrone concentrations and estradiol administered doses, although these concentrations increased with the increased dosage. Adverse events were neither serious nor unexpected; none required discontinuation of the treatment, and their incidence was higher with the highest doses. Erythema and skin wrinkling were the most frequent cutaneous reactions - their frequency (related to the number of applications) was increased from 26 to 44% for erythema and from 2 to 40% for skin wrinkling when the administered dose increased from 0.025 to 0.100 mg/day. It was concluded that the linear relationship established between plasma estradiol concentrations and administered doses constitutes the basis for the dosage adjustment to the individual needs of postmenopausal women in the range 0.025 to 0.100 mg/day, and allows adjustment of the dose to deliver the minimum effective level of estrogen.