Fibrinolytic potential is significantly increased by oestrogen treatment in postmenopausal women with mild dyslipidaemia.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of oestrogen replacement treatment on fibrinolytic potential in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial of oral 17 beta-oestradiol.


METHODS
Subjects were evaluated in the outpatient setting.


METHODS
Nineteen postmenopausal women with mild dyslipidaemia, aged 44 to 69 years (mean (SD) 55.7 (6.7)).


METHODS
Fibrinolytic activity (fibrin plate assay) and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen were measured at baseline and after three, six, and nine weeks of each treatment.


RESULTS
After nine weeks of 2 mg oestradiol treatment, there was a significant increase in fibrinolytic potential compared with placebo, as indicated by an increase in fibrinolytic activity (mean (SEM), 80 (9) v 54 (5) mm2 of lysis in the fibrin plate, 2 mg v placebo, p = 0.002) and a decrease in t-PA antigen (5.8 (0.9) v 8.4 (1.2) ng/ml, 2 mg v placebo, p < 0.001). There was a similar trend with the 1 mg dose but the changes were less noticeable.


CONCLUSIONS
Hormone replacement treatment with 17 beta-oestradiol for nine weeks significantly increased fibrinolytic potential in postmenopausal women with mild dyslipidaemia. This suggests that the cardioprotective effect of oestrogen may be mediated, in part, by an increase in fibrinolytic potential.
Gebara
O C
OC
Institute for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Mittleman
M A
MA
Walsh
B W
BW
Lipinska
I
I
Welty
F K
FK
Bellotti
G
G
Muller
J E
JE
Sacks
F K
FK
Tofler
G H
GH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D011372:Progestins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000097:blood
D011372:Progestins; D004958:Estradiol; D005340:Fibrinogen; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator