title: Effect of short-term estrogen therapy on endothelial function: a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of short-term hormone replacement therapy with 0.625 mg conjugated estrogens daily on endothelial function of healthy postmenopausal women, using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial over 3 years. Randomization was performed using computer-generated sorting. All participants were blinded to the use of conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) or placebo and FMD was assessed by a blinded examiner, before and after 28 days of medication. A total of 64 healthy postmenopausal women were selected and randomly assigned into two groups of treatment: 0.625 mg of CEE or placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FMD values were statistically different between the groups (p = 0.025): the group receiving CEE showed a FMD value of 0.011 compared to the placebo group (FMD = -0.082). The two groups were additionally evaluated for homogeneity through the Shapiro-Wilk test in respect to variables that could interfere with endothelial function such as age (p = 0.729), body mass index (p = 0.891), and time since menopause (p = 0.724). Other variables were excluded during selection of the participants such as chronic vascular conditions, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that the administration of 0.625 mg CEE for 28 days is effective in improving vascular nitric oxide-dependent dilation assessed by FMD of the brachial artery in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT01482416.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hurtado
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celani
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geber
mesh_terms: D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects; D001938:Brazil; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)
keywords: Estrogen; brachial artery; endothelial function; flow-mediated dilation; postmenopausal