Duration of menopause and behavior of malondialdehyde, lipids, lipoproteins and carotid wall artery intima-media thickness.
OBJECTIVE
our study assessed whether minor or major hormonal deficiency influenced oxidative status and vascular wall structure in menopausal women.


METHODS
the study series was made up of 62 non hypertensive non diabetic menopausal women (mean age 52.3+/-4.7 years) divided into two groups depending on duration of menopause (group 1 duration 0-5 years; group 2 duration over 5 years). Total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA) and common carotid artery wall intima-media thickness (IMT) were determined in the entire series.


RESULTS
mean TC, LDL-C, TG, MDA and IMT values were higher in group 2 than group 1. The intergroup difference between MDA (P<0.007) and IMT values (P<0.006) values was statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
the study revealed a close temporal correlation between plasma oxidative stress and carotid wall IMT, jeopardizes vascular wall status as menopause proceeds.
Signorelli
S S
SS
Department of Internal Medicine, A Francaviglia--Angiology Unit, Via Firenze No. 123, 95020 Acicastello, Italy. signct@ctonline.it
Neri
S
S
Sciacchitano
S
S
Di Pino
L
L
Costa
M P
MP
Pennisi
G
G
Ierna
D
D
Caschetto
S
S
D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood*; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000503:physiopathology*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002784:Cholesterol