The effects of antihypertensive agents on endometrial thickness in asymptomatic, hypertensive, postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate, by using transvaginal ultrasonography, the possible effects on endometrial thickness of antihypertensive agents in asymptomatic postmenopausal women.


METHODS
A prospective study in an outpatient menopause clinic of a university hospital. We included 288 postmenopausal women in this study, and we compared three groups of postmenopausal women as follows: (1) normotensive postmenopausal women, (2) hypertensive women treated with an antihypertensive drug (beta-blocker, non-beta-blocker, or beta-blocker plus non-beta-blocker), and (3) untreated hypertensive women who had had hypertension for at least 1 year. Hypertensive women treated with a drug had been receiving treatment for 1 year. All women were interviewed and examined. Measurements of endometrial thickness were carried out by vaginal ultrasonography.


RESULTS
Sixty-two women (22%) were normotensive, and 226 (78%) of 288 women were hypertensive. Of the 226 women, 122 (54%) were receiving an antihypertensive drug. The mean (+/- SD) endometrial thicknesses in groups A, B, and C were 4.5 (+/- 1.3), 5.4 (+/- 1.5), and 6.4 (+/- 1.7) mm, respectively. Significant difference was obtained among the groups (P = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that the mean endometrial thickness is significantly greater in asymptomatic, hypertensive women receiving antihypertensive drugs than among untreated hypertensive and normotensive women.
Okman-Kilic
Tulay
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Trakya University Faculty of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey. ajlankilic@hotmail.com
Kucuk
Mustafa
M
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents