[TNFalpha and sVCAM plasma levels during standard exercise test are higher in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia].
OBJECTIVE
The evaluation of serum ICAM, VCAM, endothelin-1 (Et-1), TNF-alpha and its soluble receptor levels and the secretion of nitric oxide in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia.


METHODS
26 postmenopausal patients who neither received hormonal therapy nor cholesterol lowering treatment. Group A consisted of 16 women with high serum total cholesterol and group B of 10 women with normal cholesterol level.


METHODS
Basic fasting serum FSH, 17beta-estradiol, as well as total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides levels were evaluated. Standard exercise test was carried out according to Bruce protocol. Blood samples were taken thrice (prior to, at peak exercise, 15th min of recovery) during the test to evaluate the serum levels of ICAM, VCAM, ET-1, TNF-alpha and its soluble receptors as well as secretion of nitric oxide.


RESULTS
In group A--sVCAM (660.0 +/- 106.4 mg/l versus 518.6 +/- 65.4 mg/l; p < 0.05) and TNF-alpha serum levels (2.2 +/- 1.0 ng/l versus 1.2 +/- 0.4 ng/l; p < 0.05) at peak exercise were higher in group A compared to group B. There was a tendency (p > 0.05) of higher ET-1 plasma levels in group A.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum levels of adhesion molecules and inflammatory mediators were higher during physical exercise in postmenopausal women with atherosclerosis risk factors.
Milewicz
Tomasz
T
Klinika Endokrynologii Ginekologicznej, Collegium Medicum, Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego w Krakowie. momilewi@cyf-kr.edu.pl
Rajtar
Renata
R
Fedak
Danuta
D
Kolasińska-Kloch
Władysława
W
Krzysiek
Józef
J
Banach
Tomasz
T
Thor
Piotr
P
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
D016232:Endothelins; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D009569:Nitric Oxide