Effects of low-dose continuous combined HRT on vascular function in women with type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Improvement in vascular endothelial function is widley cited as a beneficial effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Women with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are at increased cardiovascular risk and have impaired endothelial function. Any benefits of HRT on endothelial function in this group are of particular interest.


OBJECTIVE
We assessed effects on vascular function of oral 17beta oestradiol (1 mg) and norethisterone (0.5 mg) in postmenopausal women with T2DM.


METHODS
Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.


METHODS
Twenty-eight women had pulse wave velocity (PWV) and adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 assessed before and after three months' treatment. Twenty-four women also had gluteal fat biopsy for assessment of resistance vessel function (using wire myography).


RESULTS
HRT did not affect PWV, VCAM-1, ICAM-1 or carbachol response. Effects of L-NAME and indomethacin on carbachol sensitivity were similar in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This HRT preparation had no detectable effect on these measures of endothelial function in women with T2DM.
Kernohan
Andrew F B
AF
Division of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, 36 Church St, Glasgow, G11 6NT, UK. afbk1h@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
Spiers
Angela
A
Sattar
Naveed
N
Hillier
Chris
C
Cleland
Steve J
SJ
Small
Michael
M
Lumsden
Mary-Ann
MA
McConnell
John
J
Petrie
John R
JR
D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
D004338:Drug Combinations; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D004958:Estradiol; D009640:Norethindrone