Raloxifene slows down the progression of intima-media thickness in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of raloxifene on atherosclerosis progression in healthy postmenopausal women.


METHODS
In a prospective fashion, a total of 155 healthy postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to receive raloxifene 60 mg/day or a matching placebo for 18 months. Atherosclerosis progression was evaluated by B-mode ultrasonography measuring the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries. Plasma levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, adiponectin, and the degree of insulin resistance by the homeostatic model assessment method were also determined.


RESULTS
The progression slope of carotid IMT was 0.0112 mm/18 months in the raloxifene group and 0.0857 mm/18 months in the placebo group (P<0.004). Raloxifene treatment compared with placebo produced a significant decrease in plasma triglycerides (P<0.02), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<0.02), soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (P<0.005) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (P<0.04), E-selectin (P<0.02), interleukin-6 (P<0.005), tumor necrosis factor alpha (P<0.005) levels, and homeostatic model assessment index (P<0.005) and a significant increase in plasma adiponectin levels (P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that women receiving raloxifene had a lower risk of IMT progression (odds ratio=0.41; 95% CI: 0.32-0.70).


CONCLUSIONS
Raloxifene treatment, possibly through an increase in plasma adiponectin levels, may slow the progression of IMT in postmenopausal women.
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Neonatology, School of Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. nicola.colacurci@unina2.it
Nicola
N
Colacurci
Felice
F
Fornaro
Luigi
L
Cobellis
Pasquale
P
De Franciscis
Marco
M
Torella
Elena
E
Sepe
Alessandro
A
Arciello
Federico
F
Cacciapuoti
Giuseppe
G
Paolisso
Daniela
D
Manzella
D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy; D017698:Postmenopause; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016387:Women's Health
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride