Rapid changes of flow-mediated dilatation after surgical menopause.
OBJECTIVE
Estrogen acts directly on endothelial nitric oxide synthase through a non-genomic mechanism, resulting in rapid dilatation of blood vessels. In this study, we examined the change of endothelial function after surgical menopause.


METHODS
In 20 subjects who underwent gynecological operations (ovariectomy (OVX) 12, sham (SHAM) operation 8), postoperative changes of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery were examined using ultrasonography. Postoperative changes of the response to nitroglycerin (NTG) were also studied in these patients.


RESULTS
In the OVX group, significant decreases of FMD were observed 1 week after the operation, although no changes were observed in the response to NTG. In the SHAM group, no remarkable changes of FMD or the response to NTG were observed after the operation.


CONCLUSIONS
OVX influences endothelium-dependent vasodilatation within as little as 1 week. Therefore, it may be important to address the rapid changes of circulation after surgical menopause in order to prevent cardiovascular disease.
Ohmichi
Masahide
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Osaka, Japan. masa@gyne.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Kanda
Yuki
Y
Hisamoto
Koji
K
Morishige
Ken-ichiro
K
Takahashi
Kazuhiro
K
Sawada
Kenjiro
K
Minekawa
Ryoko
R
Tasaka
Keiichi
K
Murata
Yuji
Y
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D005996:Nitroglycerin