title: Insulin resistance is increased by transdermal estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women with cardiac syndrome X.
abstract: Estrogen has been reported to have both short- and long-term effects on the cardiovascular system. However, it remains to be examined how short-term transdermal estrogen therapy (TET) affects insulin sensitivity (SI) in patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX), who are characterized by elevated insulin resistance. SI was assessed in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study by minimal model analysis in seven postmenopausal women with CSX treated by TET. SI decreased by 32 +/- 8.3%, from 5.94 +/- 1.14 at baseline to 3.61 +/- 0.40 [(10(-4) x min(-1))/(microU/ml)] during TET (p = 0.03). Time to the onset of symptoms increased from 414.2 +/- 51.0 s at baseline to 450.0 +/- 53.2 s (p = 0.04). We conclude that TET increases SI in postmenopausal women with CSX. This effect is unrelated to the beneficial anti-ischemic effects on exercise duration.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, University of Texas Medical School and Hermann Hospital, Houston, Tex., USA.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Assali
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jabara
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shafer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Solodky
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Herz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sclarovsky
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strasberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sclarovsky
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fainaru
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D017566:Microvascular Angina / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies