title: Effects of hormone replacement therapy on ambulatory blood pressure and vascular responses in normotensive women.
abstract: The effects of chronic oestrogen replacement therapy (ERT) (conjugated equine oestrogen 0.625 mg/day) and combined oestrogen and progestogen replacement therapy (HRT) (ERT plus continuous medroxyprogesterone acetate 5 mg/day) on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure recordings, forearm vascular resistance (FVR) and FVR responses to noradrenaline, angiotensin II, acetylcholine and nitroprusside were studied in 17 normotensive postmenopausal women in a 3-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with 1 month of therapy in each treatment arm. During the last few days of each 1-month treatment period, the subjects underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure recordings and measurements of FVR responses. ERT and HRT reduced mean 24-h diastolic blood pressure by 4 and 5 mmHg, systolic blood pressure by 6 and 9 mmHg and mean 24-h heart rate by 5 and 3 beats/min, respectively for ERT and HRT (p < 0.05). Basal FVR was reduced by approximately 18% by ERT and HRT, but FVR responses to noradrenaline, angiotensin II, acetylcholine and nitroprusside were unaffected. ERT and HRT therapy for 1 month lowers blood pressure and basal FVR, but does not appear to influence FVR responses to acetylcholine, nitroprusside, noradrenaline and angiotensin II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. George Hospital, University of New South Wales, Kogarah, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manwaring
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morfis
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Howes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011372:Progestins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012016:Reference Values; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D011372:Progestins; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate