Transvaginal color Doppler sonographic evaluation of the uterus in postmenopausal women on daily raloxifene therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of raloxifene on the endometrium and the uterus by transvaginal color Doppler sonography.


METHODS
The study group was composed of 34 asymptomatic postmenopausal women. All had been treated with raloxifene 60 mg/day for 6 months. The patients underwent transvaginal color Doppler sonography before starting raloxifene and after treatment. The uterus was scanned by transvaginal ultrasound to evaluate the pulsatility (PI) and resistance (RI) indices of both uterine arteries. The mean values for the uterine arteries were analyzed.


RESULTS
The mean age of the women was 57.56 +/- 4.44 years (range 48-64 years), and mean number of years since the menopause was 8.67 +/- 5.44 (range 1-25 years). The mean endometrial thickness (3.62 +/- 1.13 vs. 3.59 +/- 0.95 mm) and uterine volume (40.67 +/- 18.36 vs. 38.05 +/- 19.47 ml) were not significantly different before starting treatment and after treatment (p > 0.05). The mean values of the PI (3.49 +/- 1.56 vs. 3.90 +/- 1.38) and RI (0.94 +/- 0.11 vs. 0.98 +/- 0.10) of the uterine arteries were not significantly different before starting treatment and after treatment (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Daily therapy with raloxifene did not stimulate the endometrium, the uterus or uterine blood flow.
Chittacharoen
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand 10400.
Theppisai
U
U
Manonai
J
J
D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014655:Vascular Resistance
D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride