title: Inflammatory markers and progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy postmenopausal women (from the Estrogen in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis Trial).
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) correlate with progression of subclinical atherosclerosis. Secondarily, the long-term effect of oral estradiol on hs-CRP and sICAM-1 were determined. Data were analyzed from 180 healthy postmenopausal women aged 45 to 80 years randomly assigned to either unopposed micronized 17beta-estradiol 1 mg/day or placebo in the Estrogen in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis Trial (EPAT). Carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), hs-CRP, and sICAM-1 were measured at baseline and every 6 months thereafter for 2 years. Unopposed 17beta-estradiol significantly increased hs-CRP (p = 0.01) and decreased sICAM-1 compared with placebo (p = 0.04). Changes in hs-CRP and sICAM-1 did not correlate with changes in carotid artery intima-media thickness. In conclusion, although unopposed 17beta-estradiol significantly altered hs-CRP and sICAM-1, neither marker was associated with progression of subclinical atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. athero@usc.edu
authors.forename: Howard N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Hodis
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: St John
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cushman
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: Wendy J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Mack
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004967:Estrogens; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D004958:Estradiol; D002097:C-Reactive Protein