Raloxifene reduces impedance to flow within the uterine artery in early postmenopausal women: a 2-year randomized, placebo-controlled, comparative study.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to investigate the long-term effect of raloxifene and continuous combined hormone replacement therapy (ccHRT) on impedance to flow within the uterine artery in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 2-year study was performed in 95 postmenopausal women. They received either 60 mg of raloxifene daily (raloxifene 60 group), 150 mg of raloxifene daily (raloxifene 150 group), ccHRT, or placebo. At baseline and thereafter every 6 months, color Doppler ultrasonography was used to measure the pulsatility index (PI) of the uterine artery.


RESULTS
After 24 months of treatment, compared with placebo, significant decreases were found in the PI in the raloxifene 150 group (P = .021) and in the ccHRT group (P = .007). In the raloxifene 150 group compared with the placebo group, after 6 and 24 months, decreases were observed in median PI of -5% and -15%, respectively, and in the ccHRT group decreases of -2% and -19%, respectively, were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term use of 150 mg of raloxifene daily or ccHRT reduces impedance to flow within the uterine artery. This indicates that high-dose raloxifene may exert cardiovascular protection.
Post
M S
MS
Ageing Women Project and the Institute for Cardiovascular Research-Vrije Universiteit (ICaR-VU), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
van der Mooren
M J
MJ
van Baal
W M
WM
Neele
S J
SJ
Netelenbos
J C
JC
Kenemans
P
P
D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D017698:Postmenopause; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*
D010919:Placebos; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride