title: Raloxifene and endothelial function in healthy postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of raloxifene on endothelial function in healthy, postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Subjects (n = 19; mean age, 61 years) underwent endothelial function testing at baseline and after treatment with placebo or raloxifene (60 mg per day for 6 weeks).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Brachial artery diameter change (flow-mediated dilation) increased 5.0% with placebo and 8.56% with raloxifene (SE = 1.83, P =.03) in response to a hyperemic stimulus; an adjustment of this response for a variation in stimulus intensity resulted in greater discrimination (P =.009). The ratio of area under the curve response to area under the curve reference with the use of laser Doppler measures was 1.18 for placebo and 1.28 for raloxifene (P =.05). Flow-mediated dilation and area under the curve ratio correlated significantly (r = 0.33, P =.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with raloxifene enhanced endothelial-mediated dilation in brachial arteries and digital vessels in healthy, postmenopausal women. A potential mechanism for a cardioprotective effect of raloxifene is suggested and warrants further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, USA. philip.sarrel@Yale.edu
authors.forename: Philip M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sarrel
authors.forename: Haq
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nawaz
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000502:physiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride