Does sublingual 17 beta-oestradiol have any effects on exercise capacity and myocardial ischaemia in post-menopausal women with stable coronary artery disease?
BACKGROUND
A variety of vascular effects have been ascribed to 17 beta-oestradiol. These effects may partially explain the reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease found in post-menopausal women on oestrogen replacement therapy.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of 2 mg sublingual 17 beta-oestradiol on exercise capacity, exercise-induced myocardial ischaemia and circulating levels of endothelin-1 in post-menopausal women with stable coronary artery disease.


METHODS
Twelve post-menopausal women, mean age 61 (range 52-72) years, with angiographically verified significant coronary artery disease, were randomly assigned to 2 mg of sublingual 17 beta-oestradiol, 2.5 mg of buccal nitroglycerine and to placebo in a double-blind cross-over study design with at least 2 days between each of the study arms. Antianginal medications, with the exception of beta-blockers, were discontinued before investigation. All study patients underwent a maximal bicycle exercise test 30 min after drug intake. Blood was withdrawn immediately before and up to 8 h after medication for analyses of circulating levels of oestradiol and endothelin-1.


RESULTS
The mean serum levels of oestradiol increased from a control level of 72 +/- 28 pmol.l-1 to 3557 +/- 1731 pmol.l-1 after 30 min and to 5028 +/- 3971 pmol.l-1 after 60 min with a gradual decline thereafter. Sublingual 17 beta-oestradiol did not induce any improvement in exercise duration when compared with nitroglycerin and placebo (500 +/- 112 s, 505 +/- 107 s, 498 +/- 157 s), and did not influence time to onset of ST-segment depression (358 +/- 89 s, 436 +/- 93 s, 384 +/- 116 s). The plasma levels of endothelin-1 did not change after administration of 17 beta-oestradiol, nitroglycerin or placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
No effects of exercise capacity, exercise-induced acute ischaemia, or plasma levels of endothelin-1 were found after a single dose of 2 mg 17 beta-oestradiol in post-menopausal women with documented coronary artery disease.
al-Khalili
F
F
Department of Cardiology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Landgren
B M
BM
Eksborg
S
S
Franco-Cereceda
A
A
Schenck-Gustafsson
K
K
D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019332:Endothelin-1; D004958:Estradiol; D005996:Nitroglycerin