title: Effects of estradiol alone and combined with norethisterone acetate on pulse-wave velocity in hypertensive postmenopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arterial hypertension and postmenopausal reduction of estrogen levels may be involved in modifications of the stiffness of large arteries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and indirectly the arterial stiffness in hypertensive postmenopausal women submitted to hormone therapy with estradiol alone or combined with norethisterone acetate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five hypertensive postmenopausal women were double-blindly, randomly assigned to three arms of treatment: placebo (group I); estradiol 2 mg/day (group II); or estradiol 2 mg/day and norethisterone acetate 1 mg/day (group III).
  
  
  METHODS
  Arterial stiffness was assessed from PWV measurements of the common carotid and femoral arteries (CF-PWV) and the common carotid and radial arteries (CR-PWV) obtained using the automatic Complior(R) device, taken at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the 12-week treatment, values of CF-PWV and CR-PWV were not significantly different (p = 0.910 and p = 0.736, respectively) among the groups. Systolic blood pressure showed a positive correlation with CF-PWV in groups II and III (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PWV and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal hypertensive women did not reduce over a 12-week treatment with estradiol alone compared with the same period of treatment with estradiol combined with norethisterone acetate.
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Clinic, Public Health School and Heart Institute (InCor), University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil. ccag@uol.com.br
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aldrighi
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bortolotto
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Alecrin
authors.forename: J A F
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ramires
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D010919:Placebos; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D011674:Pulse; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D010919:Placebos; D004958:Estradiol; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D009640:Norethindrone