Estrogen does not prevent endothelial dysfunction caused by cigarette smoking.
BACKGROUND
Estrogen favors endothelial function while acute tobacco use provokes dysfunction. Previous studies have not examined the effect of smoking one cigarette at different stages of the menstrual cycle.


OBJECTIVE
Favorable actions of estrogen on endothelial function are transitorily abolished by smoking one cigarette.


METHODS
Brachial artery endothelium-dependent dilation was measured noninvasively before, 10 min, and 1 h after smoking in 17 healthy premenopausal women. Studies were done in the first 3 days (early stage) and repeated between Days 9 and 13 of the menstrual cycle (middle stage). Estradiol was measured after each study.


RESULTS
At basal conditions, women in the middle stage of their cycles, when estradiol was 20 times higher than in the early stage, had significantly more endothelial-dependent brachial dilatation. No difference in the marked depression caused by cigarette smoking was found between the two stages. One h recuperation was complete in both phases.


CONCLUSIONS
Cigarette smoking abolishes the protection of circulating estrogen on endothelial function.
García-Fernández
Raymid
R
Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Havana, Cuba.
Pérez-Velasco
Javier G
JG
Concepcíon-Millán
Ariadna
A
Sosa
Sualy
S
Navaroli
Francisco
F
García-Barreto
David
D
D000328:Adult; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
D004958:Estradiol