title: Effects of transdermal hormone replacement therapy on levels of soluble P- and E-selectin in postmenopausal healthy women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the adhesion molecule pattern in postmenopausal women who were not receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT), HRT users, and fertile women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty healthy naturally postmenopausal women and 20 fertile women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six women received no HRT and 24 received continuous transdermal 17 beta-estradiol, 0.05 mg/d, plus oral acetate nomegestrol, 5 mg/d.
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of the soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, and P-selectin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women who did not received HRT showed a trend toward higher levels of soluble E-selectin and had significantly higher levels of soluble P-selectin than did fertile women. Levels of soluble E-selectin and soluble P-selectin were significantly lower in HRT users than in nonusers. Levels of VCAM-1 levels were significantly higher in HRT users than in fertile women, but no significant differences in CAM concentrations were found between the other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Menopause may lead to increased levels of soluble E- and soluble P-selectin, whereas long-term HRT is associated with lower selectin concentrations. This suggests that HRT may have a beneficial effect on endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farzati
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Colacurci
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fornaro
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chiantera
authors.forename: Bartolomeo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Farzati
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D008535:Megestrol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D019040:E-Selectin; D019007:P-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C047637:nomegestrol; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D004958:Estradiol; D008535:Megestrol