Sonal Shah

Publications (3)11.27 Total impact

• Article: Letter to the Editor.

  Susan Davis, Rebecca Goldstat, Mary-Anne Papalia, Sonal Shah, Jayashri Kulkarni, Susan Donath, Robin Bell
  Menopause 11/2006; · 3.76 Impact Factor
• Article: Testosterone aromatization and cognition in women: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

  Sonal Shah, Robin J Bell, Greg Savage, Rebecca Goldstat, Mary-Anne Papalia, Jayashri Kulkarni, Susan Donath, Susan R Davis
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  ABSTRACT: To explore whether inhibition of the conversion of testosterone to estradiol modifies the effects of testosterone on cognition in 61 healthy, estrogen-treated postmenopausal women. Seventy-six postmenopausal women using transdermal estrogen for at least 8 weeks, with a serum total testosterone less than 1.2 nmol/L participated in a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. All participants received transdermal testosterone, 400 muL of a 0.5% testosterone gel, daily and were randomized to receive either letrozole 2.5 mg/day or an identical placebo tablet. The main outcome measure was cognition, evaluated using a comprehensive battery of standardized neuropsychological tests, at baseline and week 16. Thirty women in each group completed the study. Free testosterone increased from baseline in both groups, with no difference between groups. Free testosterone levels achieved were below the 90th centile for young women in 80% of the participants at week 16. Serum estradiol and sex hormone-binding globulin levels did not differ from baseline or between groups during the study. No clinically significant effects of testosterone treatment were seen for attention and working memory, psychomotor speed, or executive function. Significant improvements were seen for immediate and delayed visual and verbal memory and for simple concentration with testosterone therapy, all of which were unaffected by the aromatase inhibitor. We did not observe any effects of aromatase inhibition on cognition in healthy, estrogen-treated postmenopausal women treated with testosterone. This may be due to insufficient study power or a true lack of effect. However, our findings highlight that the detection of subtle changes in cognition in well women require the development of sensitive instruments and large randomized, controlled trials.
  Menopause 06/2006; 13(4):600-8. · 3.76 Impact Factor
• Article: Effects of aromatase inhibition on sexual function and well-being in postmenopausal women treated with testosterone: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

  Susan R Davis, Rebecca Goldstat, Mary-Anne Papalia, Sonal Shah, Jayashri Kulkarni, Susan Donath, Robin J Bell
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  ABSTRACT: The extent to which aromatization of testosterone (T) to estradiol is required for the observed effects of testosterone therapy on sexual function and well-being are not known. Therefore, the authors investigated the effects of aromatase enzyme inhibition on sexual function, well-being, and mood in estrogen- and T-replete postmenopausal women in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Postmenopausal women using transdermal estrogen therapy for at least 8 weeks and reporting low sexual satisfaction (score <42 for the Sabbatsberg Sexual Self-rating Scale [SSS]) with a total T value of less than 1.2 nmol/L were treated with 400 muL of a 0.5% T gel (total dose 2 mg) and were randomly assigned to receive treatment with either 2.5 mg/day of letrozole or an identical placebo tablet. Women were assessed at baseline (week -2) and at 0, 4, 8, and 16 weeks. Sexual function was assessed with the SSS, well-being was assessed with the Psychological General Well-being Index, and mood was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory at 0 and 16 weeks. Eighty-one women were screened, 76 were randomly assigned to a treatment group, and 30 in each group completed the study. Because this was a mechanistic study, only the 60 women who completed the study per protocol were included in the final analysis. Total T and calculated free T increased from baseline in both groups, with no difference between groups. At 16 weeks, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin, fasting lipids, lipoprotein(a), and C-reactive protein did not differ from baseline or between groups. Significant increases in total Sabbatsberg Sexual Self-rating Scale scores, total Psychological General Well-being Index scores, and a reduction in Beck Depression Inventory scores from baseline to 16 weeks was seen for both treatment groups, with no effect of treatment allocation. No adverse treatment effects were reported. Increases in total and free T in the physiologic range in postmenopausal women were associated with improved sexual satisfaction, well-being, and mood. In this study, aromatase inhibition did not influence any of these outcomes. Short-term transdermal T therapy did not modify fasting lipids, lipoprotein(a), or C-reactive protein.
  Menopause 13(1):37-45. · 3.76 Impact Factor