title: Estrogen therapy effects on different vasoactive factors in recent postmenopausal healthy women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate whether the route of estrogen therapy (ET) may affect the levels of different vasoactive factors in healthy recent post-menopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-over study in 20 healthy nonsmoking women in recent postmenopause (1.8+/-0.1 years). Women received either 1-month oral-ET (O-ET, 2 mg oral micronized 17beta estradiol daily) or transdermal-ET regimen (T-ET, 17beta estradiol 1.5 mg gel daily) with a 1-month wash-out interval. Blood pressure, plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET), 6-ketoPGF1a (6-ketoPG, prostacyclin metabolite), nitrite/nitrate (NOx), epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) and lipid profile were measured at baseline and after each treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both regimens significantly reduced E (p<0.01) and NE levels (p<0.05). O-ET reduced low-density lipoproteins (LDL) levels (p<0.05) and increased NOx values (p<0.01). Neither regimen caused significant changes of ET or 6-ketoPG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results, obtained in healthy women in recent menopause, indicate that the ratio between vasodilator (NOx and prostacyclin) and vasoconstrictor (ET) bioavailability shifted towards the previous ones after O-ET, while it remained unchanged after T-ET; moreover, catecholamines levels were reduced by both treatments already from 1 month of therapy. These changes might represent very early beneficial effects evoked by ET on the cardiovascular system.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica-Area di ricerca CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, I-56100, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maffei
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mercuri
authors.forename: Gian Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Zucchelli
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vassalle
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000097:blood; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D001682:Biological Availability; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D012016:Reference Values; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019332:Endothelin-1; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D004958:Estradiol; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine