Observational study on the efficacy of tibolone in counteracting early carotid atherosclerotic lesions in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To study whether tibolone affects lipid profile and diffused intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries (CCA) in postmenopausal women (PMW).


METHODS
Twenty-two PMW and 20 premenopausal women participated in the study. The PMW were randomly divided into 11 women who did not receive any treatment and 11 women who received tibolone (2.5 mg once a day).


RESULTS
After 6 months the treated women had lipoprotein(a) (Lpa), total-cholesterol (total-C), and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels lower than before, while in the non-treated women Lpa was increased. The IMT of CCA was unmodified in the treated women, whereas it increased in non-treated women.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study suggests that a 6-month tibolone treatment could counteract the increase of the IMT of CCA observed in untreated PMW.
Anedda
Francesca Maria
FM
Department of Internal Medical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Velati
Andrea
A
Lello
Stefano
S
Orrù
Marisa
M
Paoletti
Anna Maria
AM
Melis
Gian Benedetto
GB
Binaghi
Ferdinando
F
D000328:Adult; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D009652:Norpregnenes; D002784:Cholesterol; C027385:tibolone