Administration of raloxifene does not influence 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure of postmenopausal women with osteopenia: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
Because estrogens may decrease 24-hour blood pressure of postmenopausal women, we tested the effect of the selective estrogen receptor modulator raloxifene on ambulatory blood pressure.


METHODS
Postmenopausal women with osteopenia who were otherwise healthy were assigned randomly in a double blind-fashion to receive placebo (n = 16 women) or raloxifene (60 mg/d, n = 16 women). Before and after 4 months, the blood pressure of each woman was monitored every 30 minutes for 41 hours with the use of an ambulatory device.


RESULTS
Similar to the placebo outcome, the raloxifene administration did not modify 24-hour daytime (7 AM -11 PM) and nighttime (11 PM -7 AM) blood pressure and heart rate values. Day-night differences and the 24-hour rhythmic variation of mean blood pressure, which was evaluated by cosinor analysis, were also not affected by placebo or by raloxifene.


CONCLUSIONS
Raloxifene does not influence 24-hour blood pressure of postmenopausal women. These data are reassuring for the cardiovascular safety of the long-term raloxifene administration.
Cagnacci
Angelo
A
Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Policlinico di Modena, via del Pozzo 71, 41100 Modena, Italy. cagnacci@unimore.it
Zanni
Anna Lisa
AL
Volpe
Annibale
A
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010919:Placebos; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D010919:Placebos; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride