title: Venous endothelial function in postmenopausal women after six months of tibolone therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test venous endothelial function in long-term climateric therapy with tibolone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measurement of dorsal hand-vein diameter by venous occlusion plethysmography during infusion of norepinephrine (NE), bradykinin (BK), NG-monomethyl L-arginine (L-NMMA) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Plethysmography and Menopause Units. University Hospital Valdecilla. Santander. Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven postmenopausal women having continuous treatment with oral tibolone (2.5 mg/day) for 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three plethysmography studies were made: at baseline, and at three and six months of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dorsal hand-vein diameter measured by venous occlusion plethysmography during infusion of NE, BK, L-NMMA and SNP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (a) Baseline study: maximum dilation with BK was 54.2+/-10.2%. (b) Three-month study: BK dilation of 71.5+/-11.9%, with a significant increase of 17.3% (P=0.019) compared with baseline. (c) Six-month study: BK dilation of 77.5+/-11.9%, with a significant increase 23.3% (P=0.002) compared with baseline. Maximal vasodilation was reached with SNP in the three studies and L-NMMA infusion has a similar vasoconstrictor response in the three studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term climateric therapy with tibolone improves vein endothelium-dependent vasodilation suggesting a positive impact of this drug on endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Hospital Universitario M. de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, Santander 39008, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ceballos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ribes
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Amado
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Mier
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: de Rozas
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Berrazueta
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010991:Plethysmography; D017698:Postmenopause; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009652:Norpregnenes; C027385:tibolone