title: A double-blind, placebo controlled study of postmenopausal oestrogen replacement therapy and carotid artery pulsatility index.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether postmenopausal oestrogen replacement therapy affects carotid artery pulsatility index.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective double-blind placebo controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University associated teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight postmenopausal women who were more than 12 months postmenopausal and who had not taken exogenous oestrogen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Independent randomisation to receive oral oestradiol (2 mg daily) or placebo for 20 to 24 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Internal carotid artery Doppler pulsatility index, measured within one centimetre of the carotid bifurcation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Replicate data were available from 27 women. The mean pulsatility index decreased by -0.11 in 15 women receiving oestradiol, compared with a mean rise of 0.05 in the 12 women who received placebo (P = 0.006, 95% CI for treatment difference 0.06-0.31).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oestrogen replacement decreases postmenopausal carotid artery pulsatility index, probably reflecting decreased peripheral vascular resistance. This is a further mechanism whereby hormone replacement therapy may impart cardiovascular protection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vyas
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol