The short-term effects of different regimens of hormone replacement therapy on left ventricular structure and performance in healthy postmenopausal women. A prospective, controlled echocardiographic study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the short-term effects of different hormone replacement therapy (HRT) regimens on left ventricular structure and function in healthy postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Forty-two apparently healthy postmenopausal women were evaluated prospectively in this controlled study. Subjects were divided into 4 groups. Ten subjects, who did not accept HRT or any other treatments, formed the control group. The remaining subjects were assigned to receive oral estradiol (2 mg/day) + norethisterone acetate (1 mg/day) (n = 11), transdermal estradiol (0.05 mg) + norethisterone acetate (0.25 mg) (n = 11) or tibolone (2.5 mg/day) (n = 10) therapy during 12 weeks. Echocardiography and Doppler techniques were used to assess the cardiac effects of different HRT regimens.


RESULTS
After 12 weeks of treatment, there were significant increases in left ventricular ejection fraction (transdermal group: p = 0.008, oral group: p = 0.003, tibolone group: p = 0.005) and cardiac output (transdermal group: p = 0.003, oral group: p = 0.003, tibolone group: p = 0.021) in all treatment groups. In addition, in the transdermal group, a slight increase in left ventricular end-diastolic volume was significant (p = 0.046).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that oral and transdermal HRT regimens and tibolone may contribute to the improvement in left ventricular systolic function without having an effect on left ventricular structure after short-term administration in healthy postmenopausal women.
Fenkci
Veysel
V
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey. iffenkci@ttnet.net.tr
Yilmazer
Mehmet
M
Alpaslan
Mete
M
Onrat
Ersel
E
Fenkci
Semin
S
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D002302:Cardiac Output; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013599:Systole / Q000187:drug effects; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects*
D009652:Norpregnenes; D004958:Estradiol; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; C027385:tibolone; D009640:Norethindrone