title: Hormone replacement therapy and cardioprotection: a new dawn? A statement of the Study Group on Cardiovascular Disease in Women of the Italian Society of Cardiology on hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women.
abstract: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women in Western countries. Despite preventive strategies, in the past decades the incidence of cardiovascular events has shown a decline in men but a rise in women, matching the growth of the population of postmenopausal women. Several epidemiological findings suggest the causative pathophysiological role of ovarian hormone deficiency in the development of cardiovascular disease in women. Observational and randomized studies have suggested that hormone replacement therapy in early postmenopause could be beneficial from a cardiovascular point of view. Conversely, aging, time since menopause and presence of cardiovascular risk factors or cardiovascular disease may decrease its efficacy and increase the risk of cardiovascular events. It is plausible that the unfavorable effects of the estrogen/progestin combination used in the randomized studies are not related to the hormone preparation per se but rather to the use of hormones in the less receptive group of women, older and with cardiovascular risk factors. Clinical judgment, choice of the right dose and estrogen/progestin combination are of pivotal importance to maximize the beneficial effect of estrogen replacement therapy/hormone replacement therapy, especially if given within a reasonable time after the menopause to women who need the therapy for the relief of menopausal symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical and Basic Research, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Via della Pisana 234, 00163 Rome, Italy. giuseppe.rosano@sanraffaele.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe M C
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rosano
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maffei
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Andreassi
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vassalle
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gambacciani
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stramba-Badiale
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mercuro
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D018579:Patient Selection; D017698:Postmenopause; D011372:Progestins / Q000009:adverse effects; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D011372:Progestins