title: Effect of hormone therapy and raloxifene on serum VE-cadherin in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of continuous combined hormone therapy and raloxifene on serum VE-cadherin.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was double blinded, with a placebo run-in period of 28-50 days.
  
  
  METHODS
  University menopause clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight healthy postmenopausal women devoid of climacteric complaints.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were randomized to 17beta-estradiol (2 mg) + norethisterone acetate (1 mg; E(2)-NETA) or raloxifene hCL (60 mg) for a period of 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum VE-cadherin, which was estimated at baseline and at month 6.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum VE-cadherin decreased significantly in both E(2)-NETA and raloxifene groups (raloxifene baseline +/- SD: 1.17 +/- 0.44 ng/mL, 6 months: 0.82 +/- 0.29 ng/mL; E(2)-NETA baseline: 1.19 +/- 0.47 ng/mL, 6 months: 0.92 +/- 0.49 ng/mL). Percentage changes from baseline were -21.7 +/- 24.3 for E(2)-NETA and -26.0 +/- 20.6 for raloxifene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effect of E(2)-NETA and raloxifene suggests that these drugs may preserve interendothelial junction integrity and control vascular permeability. Although this effect may influence the progress of the atheromatous lesion, its clinical impact on coronary artery disease (CAD) remains uncertain.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Christodoulakos
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lambrinoudaki
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Panoulis
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papadias
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Creatsas
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000099152:Cadherin 5
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D004958:Estradiol; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D010919:Placebos; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; D000099152:Cadherin 5