17α-Dihydroequilin

17α-Dihydroequilin is a steroid and estrogen that is used in hormone replacement therapy. It is a component of conjugated estrogens (Premarin), along with several other, related estrogens.

Chemistry

17α-Dihydroequilin, also known as δ8-estrone or as estra-1,3,5(10),8-tetraen-3-ol-17-one, is a naturally occurring estrane steroid and an analog of estrone. It is structurally related to equilin, estrone, and estradiol.

Pharmacology

17α-Dihydroequilin is an estrogen, or an agonist of the estrogen receptors. The potency of 17α-dihydroequilin as an estrogen is similar to that of estrone and estradiol. It has been found to possess 83% of the relative binding affinity for the human estrogen receptor alpha and 44% of the relative binding affinity for the human estrogen receptor beta of estradiol.

Medical uses

17α-Dihydroequilin is used in hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and osteoporosis. It is used in the form of conjugated estrogens, which is a mixture of equine estrogens that includes 17α-dihydroequilin, equilin, estrone, and others.

Side effects

As an estrogen, 17α-dihydroequilin has the potential to produce side effects typical of estrogens, such as breast tenderness, breast enlargement, nausea, bloating, edema, headache, and melasma.

See also

• List of estrogens
• List of steroid abbreviations