Post-heparin plasma hepatic lipase activity as predictor of high-density lipoprotein response to progestogen therapy: studies with cyproterone acetate.

Cyproterone acetate (CPA) was administered to 13 menstruating women from day 14 to day 27 of the cycle at a dose of 5 mg/day. Serum lipoprotein lipid levels and postheparin plasma lipase activity were determined on day 27 of the cycle before treatment and during two treatment cycles. No significant changes were observed in hepatic lipase activity or in very-low-density (VLDL) or low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations. However, analysis of high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions by precipitation demonstrated a significant reduction in HDL2 cholesterol (-24%, P less than 0.05) during cyproterone acetate treatment. It is suggested that this change is related to oestrogen deficiency induced by inhibition of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion.