Raloxifene does not influence flow-mediated endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation of osteopenic postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
The study was undertaken to evaluate whether raloxifene influences endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation in women.


METHODS
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study, 30 osteopenic but otherwise healthy postmenopausal women received either placebo (n = 15 with one dropout) or raloxifene (60 mg/d, n = 15). Brachial artery flow-mediated endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation was evaluated by ultrasound before and after 6 months of treatment, along with lipid and glucose metabolism. Endothelium-dependent dilatation was evaluated after a 4-minute block of artery blood flow through a cuff insufflated at suprasystolic blood pressure. Endothelium-independent vasodilatation was evaluated after sublingual nitroglycerin administration (400 microg).


RESULTS
Placebo did not modify any vascular or metabolic parameter. Raloxifene significantly decreased low-density lipoprotein levels (4.60 +/- 0.18 mmol/L vs 3.94 +/- 0.30 mmol/L, P <.015) but did not modify endothelium-dependent (21.6% +/- 4.6% vs 20.6% +/- 3.8%) or endothelium-independent vasodilatation (26.3% +/- 5.1% vs 32.0% +/- 5.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Prolonged administration of raloxifene does not influence endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation of osteopenic but otherwise healthy postmenopausal women.
Cagnacci
Angelo
A
Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy. cagnacci@unimore.it
Arangino
Serenella
S
Renzi
Antonella
A
Zanni
Anna Lisa
AL
Volpe
Annibale
A
D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride