Effects of estradiol alone and combined with norethisterone acetate on pulse-wave velocity in hypertensive postmenopausal women.
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.
Arruda
C G
CG
Women's Health Clinic, Public Health School and Heart Institute (InCor), University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil. ccag@uol.com.br
Aldrighi
J M
JM
Bortolotto
L A
LA
Alecrin
I N
IN
Ramires
J A F
JA
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
D004338:Drug Combinations; D010919:Placebos; D004958:Estradiol; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D009640:Norethindrone