Lack of effects of transdermal estradiol on diastolic function: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind short-term trial.
OBJECTIVE
Limited information is available on the effects of transdermal estradiol on diastole. The present study was a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial designed to investigate the short-term effects of transdermal estradiol on left ventricular diastolic function in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
The study included 45 women aged 50.8 +/- 3.6 years (25 randomized to the study group and 20 to placebo), who underwent Doppler echocardiography and determination of the plasma estradiol level after 4 and 8 weeks of transdermal estradiol administration in a dose of 50 micrograms per 24 h.


RESULTS
There were no modifications in heart rate. Systolic blood pressure dropped in the study patients after 8 weeks (p < 0.03); diastolic blood pressure remained unchanged. Estradiol levels were 67 +/- 36 pg/ml at 4 weeks and 70 +/- 49 pg/ml at 8 weeks in the study group. Basal values of peak early and peak atrial velocities, acceleration time and rate, deceleration time and rate, early/atrial velocity ratio and pressure half-time were not significantly different between the estradiol and placebo groups. Doppler values remained unchanged after both 4 and 8 weeks in women receiving estradiol. Women with relatively high serum 17 beta-estradiol levels (> 100 pg/ml) at 4 or 8 weeks of treatment did not present more pronounced changes in the Doppler-derived parameters compared with patients with low hormone levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The results showed a lack of short-term effects of transdermal estradiol on left ventricular diastolic function in postmenopausal women, irrespective of serum estradiol levels.
Fisman
E Z
EZ
Cardiac Rehabilitation Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, 52621 Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
Tenenbaum
A
A
Shapira
I
I
Motro
M
M
Pines
A
A
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003971:Diastole / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D013599:Systole / Q000187:drug effects
D010919:Placebos; D004958:Estradiol