Low-dose transdermal hormone therapy does not interfere with the blood pressure of hypertensive menopausal women: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of low-dose transdermal hormone therapy (HT) on systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure (BP) evaluated by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in hypertensive postmenopausal women.


METHODS
The study was conducted on 24 hypertensive postmenopausal women aged, on average, 54 years and under treatment with enalapril maleate (10-20 mg/day) combined or not with hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg/day). Thirteen women used a transdermal adhesive containing estradiol and norethisterone (25 and 125 mug active substance/day, respectively) and 11 did not receive HT. ABPM, lipid profile, and climacteric symptoms were evaluated before and 3 and 6 months after treatment.


RESULTS
After 3 and 6 months of follow-up, there was a statistically significant reduction of the Blatt-Kupperman menopausal index in the treated group (19.6+/-8.3 vs. 9.6+/-5.9 vs. 9.7+/-7.0; P=0.01). No significant difference in any of the ABPM variables (areas under the systolic and diastolic curves, mean SBP and DBP, SBP and DBP loads and wakefulness-sleep variation) or in the lipid profile was observed between or within groups at the three time points studied.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose transdermal HT administered for 6 months was effective in improving climacteric symptoms and did not change BP values or circadian pattern in postmenopausal women with mild-to-moderate arterial hypertension taking antihypertensive medications.
de Carvalho
Márcia N
MN
Sector of Endocrine Gynecology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. marcianevesc@oi.com.br
Nobre
Fernando
F
Mendes
Maria C
MC
Dos Reis
Rosana M
RM
Ferriani
Rui A
RA
Silva de Sá
Marcos F
MF
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010865:Pilot Projects
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004958:Estradiol; D009640:Norethindrone