Time since menopause does not affect plasma viscosity, plasma thromboxane levels and Doppler findings.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether the use of transdermal hormone replacement therapy (HRT), in women within 5 years of menopause compared with women who were postmenopausal for > 5 years, would significantly influence thromboxane B2 levels, plasma viscosity and Doppler flow parameters at the level of the uterine, internal carotid, ophthalmic and bladder wall arteries.


METHODS
Thirty-five normal-weight (body mass index > 19 and < 25 kg/m(2)) postmenopausal women (age 54.6 +/- 3.9 years, mean +/- standard deviation) participated in the study and were divided into two groups (Group I: n = 19, time since menopause < 5 years; and Group II: n = 16, time since menopause > 5 years). Patients were treated with a continuous estradiol transdermal supplementation and 12-day courses of medroxyprogesterone acetate every 2 months. They were studied at baseline and after 6 months (in the estrogen-only phase of the cycle).


RESULTS
Results showed a beneficial effect of hormone substitution after 6 months of therapy. Baseline plasma viscosity was similar in both groups, and decreased significantly after therapy in both Group I (-17.5%) and Group II (-15.6%). Plasma levels of thromboxane B(2) were similar at baseline and diminished equally in Group I and Group II (-85.6% and -85.2%, respectively) after treatment. Doppler assessment of the pulsatility index at the level of uterine, internal carotid, ophthalmic and bladder wall arteries showed no differences between groups at baseline and revealed a significant reduction of vascular impedance at the end of the treatment in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Time since menopause does not affect the potential hemodynamic benefits of HRT in normal-weight women.
Mancini
Fulvia
F
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'G. A. Galli', University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Persico
Nicola
N
Regnani
Giorgia
G
Volpe
Annibale
A
Battaglia
Cesare
C
de Aloysio
Domenico
D
D001809:Blood Viscosity; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
D013929:Thromboxane B2