title: Increased vascular inflammation in early menopausal women is associated with hot flush severity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Menopause has been related to an increased atherosclerotic risk. Presence and severity of hot flushes in menopausal women have been associated with impaired endothelial function and advanced subclinical atherosclerosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of menopausal transition on vascular inflammation indices and investigate the association of hot flush severity with these indices in early menopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study that included 120 early menopausal women (age range 42-55 yr, <3 yr in menopause) recruited from the menopause outpatient clinic of an academic hospital and 24 age-matched premenopausal women (controls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, P-selectin, and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  P-selectin and sCD40L were increased in early menopausal compared with control women (P = 0.006 and P = 0.02 respectively), whereas high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels did not differ (P = 0.4) between the groups. Hot flush severity was the most important independent predictor of P-selectin levels (P = 0.011) in early menopausal women. Women with moderate/severe/very severe hot flushes had increased P-selectin compared with women with no/mild hot flushes or controls (P < 0.05 for both). The sCD40L levels were also higher in menopausal women with moderate/severe/very severe hot flushes compared with controls (P = 0.03) but did not differ significantly compared with women with no/mild hot flushes (P = 0.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased indices of vascular inflammation in early menopausal compared with age-matched premenopausal women may indicate a higher atherosclerotic risk. Increased severity of hot flushes was associated with adverse changes in vascular inflammation, further supporting the emerging role of hot flushes in cardiovascular prognosis in these women.
authors.affiliation: Michaelidion Cardiac Center, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110 Greece.
authors.forename: Aris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bechlioulis
authors.forename: Katerina K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Naka
authors.forename: Sophia N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kalantaridou
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaponis
authors.forename: Odysseas
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.forename: Patra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vezyraki
authors.forename: Theofilos M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Kolettis
authors.forename: Antonis P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Vlahos
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gartzonika
authors.forename: Anestis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mavridis
authors.forename: Lampros K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Michalis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D019007:P-Selectin; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D002097:C-Reactive Protein