The effect of raloxifene and tibolone on the uterine blood flow and endometrial thickness: a transvaginal Doppler study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and compare the effect of different than classical hormone therapy medications, such as raloxifene and tibolone, on the uterine arteries and endometrium of postmenopausal women using transvaginal ultrasonography.


METHODS
The prospective study included 62 healthy, postmenopausal women recruited from the Menopausal Clinic of the 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Athens. Subjects were randomly allocated to receive raloxifene HCl in a daily dose of 60 mg orally (Group A-31 women) or tibolone in a daily dose of 2.5 mg orally (Group B-31 women). The study period was 6 months and all subjects were assessed using transvaginal ultrasonography before treatment initiation as well as after 3 and 6 months for evaluation of the endometrial thickness and the pulsatility (PI) and resistance (RI) indices at the level of the uterine arteries.


RESULTS
No significant differences in RI, PI and endometrial thickness were observed in the raloxifene group during the 6-month treatment. In the tibolone group, PI and RI values decreased linearly from baseline to the end of the study, whereas the endometrial thickness was significantly increased during the first 3 months remaining unaltered thereafter. Comparisons between the two study groups revealed significant percent change of values in the pre-treatment to month-3 period and no difference with regard to pre-treatment, month-3 and month-6 absolute values.


CONCLUSIONS
Raloxifene and tibolone exert dissimilar effects on uterine blood supply parameters and endometrial thickness.
Botsis
Dimitrios
D
2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Aretaieion Hospital, 76 Vas. Sofias Av., Athens 11528, Greece.
Christodoulakos
George
G
Papagianni
Vassiliki
V
Lambrinoudaki
Irini
I
Aravantinos
Leon
L
Makrakis
Evangelos
E
Creatsas
George
G
D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D009652:Norpregnenes; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; C027385:tibolone