Neither long-term treatment with raloxifene nor hormone replacement therapy modulate cardiac function in healthy postmenopausal women: two randomized, placebo-controlled, 2-year studies.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to investigate the long-term effects of raloxifene, compared with opposed and unopposed estrogen replacement therapy, on echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular systolic function in healthy postmenopausal women. A total of 157 women were studied in 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-year studies.


METHODS
In study I, 60 postmenopausal women who had undergone hysterectomy received daily raloxifene, 60 mg (n = 15); raloxifene, 150 mg (n = 15); conjugated equine estrogens (CEE), 0.625 mg (n = 15); or placebo (n = 15). In study II, 97 postmenopausal women who had not undergone hysterectomy received daily raloxifene, 60 mg (n = 24); raloxifene, 150 mg (n = 24); CEE, 0.625 mg, plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), 2.5 mg (n = 24); or placebo (n = 25). M-mode, quantitative 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic measurements were performed at baseline and after 1 and 2 years.


RESULTS
Neither after 1 year nor after 2 years of treatment were echocardiographic parameters found to differ from baseline in both raloxifene groups, as well as in the unopposed CEE and the CEE/MPA groups, compared with the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Within 2 years of raloxifene treatment, no effect on echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular systolic function was found. Unopposed CEE or CEE/MPA also showed no effect.
Vogelvang
Tatjana E
TE
Project Aging Women and the Institute for Cardiovascular Research-Vrije Universiteit (ICaR-VU), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Mijatovic
Velja
V
Kamp
Otto
O
Netelenbos
J Coen
JC
Neele
Simone J M
SJ
Pines
Amos
A
Kenemans
Peter
P
van der Mooren
Marius J
MJ
D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004452:Echocardiography; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013599:Systole; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D010919:Placebos; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate