Venous endothelial function in postmenopausal women who are receiving long-term estrogen and progestagen therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To test venous endothelial function during long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and after treatment withdrawal.


METHODS
Measurement of dorsal hand-vein diameter by venous occlusion plethysmography during infusion of norepinephrine, bradykinin, NG-monomethyl L-arginine, and sodium nitroprusside.


METHODS
Plethysmography and menopause units, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain.


METHODS
Twenty postmenopausal women, of whom 10 were assigned to receive no hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for 6 months after plethysmography (group A) and 10 were assigned to receive HRT for 6 months (group B). After 6 months, HRT was administered to group A and withdrawn from group B for another 6 months.


METHODS
Plethysmography at baseline and at 6 and 12 months.


METHODS
Dorsal hand-vein diameter measured by venous occlusion plethysmography during infusion of norepinephrine, bradykinin, NG-monomethyl L-arginine, or sodium nitroprusside.


RESULTS
At 6 months, the maximum dilation obtained with bradykinin was 48.8 +/- 7.58% in group A and 76.7 +/- 12.9% in group B. At 12 months, maximum bradykinin dilation increased to 74.3 +/- 14.2% in group A and decreased to 54.0 +/- 15.9% in group B.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term HRT with estrogen plus progestin improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation, but this effect is lost in a relatively short time. Endothelial function in dorsal hand veins is an easy-to-use plethysmography model that can be used in serial studies.
Ceballos
C
C
Department of Gynecology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
Ribes
C
C
Amado
J A
JA
Pérez
J
J
García Unzueta
M T
MT
de Berrazueta
J R
JR
D001920:Bradykinin; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009599:Nitroprusside; D010991:Plethysmography; D017698:Postmenopause; D011372:Progestins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D014680:Veins / Q000187:drug effects*; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine
D004967:Estrogens; D011372:Progestins; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D001920:Bradykinin