International Research Journal of Oncology

Assessment of Aromatase in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women Attending Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Ben-Chioma, A. E. *

Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Joyful, G. C

Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Sheudeen, A. A.

Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Military Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Azike, C. A.

Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Elekima, I.

Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Brown, H.

Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

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Abstract

Aim: This study was a cross sectional study aimed at evaluating the concentration of the enzyme aromatase in premenopausal and postmenopausal women in Port Harcourt.

Study Design: The study population comprised of apparently healthy premenopausal and postmenopausal women who were within the age range of 20-79 years. A total of seventy (70) participants were voluntarily recruited, who were divided into 2 groups: group A comprising of thirty (30) premenopausal and group B comprising of forty (40) postmenopausal women.

Methodology: An Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method was used to analyze the concentration of aromatase in the samples. The statistical analysis was done using GraphPad Prism version 9.4.1.

Results: The results obtained for the respective groups were expressed as mean±SD and statistical significance was determined by a p-value <0.05. The results clearly showed a significant increase in the level of aromatase in postmenopausal women when compared to the premenopausal women.

Conclusion: This finding implies that postmenopausal women have much higher concentration of aromatase than the premenopausal population. Thus, there is an age-related increase in aromatase expression in relation to menopausal status.

Keywords: Aromatase, oestrogen, premenopausal, postmenopausal, ovarian and breast cancer, rivers state

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