Temporal changes in cardiac function and cerebral blood flow during sequential postmenopausal hormone replacement.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose was to assess the temporal changes in cardiac function and cerebral blood flow during postmenopausal administration of estrogen with and without progestogen.


METHODS
Sixteen postmenopausal volunteers were assessed during estradiol plus sequential norethindrone acetate and placebo in two 12-week periods. Temporal changes were measured by magnetic resonance flow mapping 8 times.


RESULTS
Systemic vascular resistance was reduced during estradiol (-6.9%; P <.05), declined further during the addition of norethindrone acetate, and was accompanied by an increase in stroke volume (maximum increase, 5.2%; P <.05) without fluid retention. Both systolic (-5 mm Hg; P =.03) and diastolic (-3 mm Hg; P =.03) blood pressure were reduced during estradiol. Cerebral blood flow was reduced after 9 weeks of hormone replacement therapy (-37 mL/min; P =.01) but increased to baseline after the addition of norethindrone acetate.


CONCLUSIONS
Sequential hormone replacement therapy is associated with changes in cardiac function, which are of therapeutic potential in cardiovascular disorders. Sequential hormone replacement therapy exhibits an overall neutral effect on cerebral blood flow.
Sørensen
M B
MB
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. m.sorensen@rbh.nthames.nhs.uk
Fritz-Hansen
T
T
Jensen
H H
HH
Pedersen
A T
AT
Højgaard
L
L
Ottesen
B
B
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D010919:Placebos; D017698:Postmenopause; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
D010919:Placebos; D004958:Estradiol; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D009640:Norethindrone