BACKGROUND: We demonstrated in a previous cross-sectional study that arterial compliance is elevated in postmenopausal women taking estrogen-containing hormonal therapy, which may partially account for the reduction in cardiovascular risk observed. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of withdrawal and recommencement of hormonal therapy, each for 4 weeks, on arterial compliance. METHODS: Seventeen postmenopausal women [aged 56 +/- 4 years (mean +/- SD)] taking long-term hormonal therapy (+HT group) were studied at baseline, 4 weeks after withdrawal of hormonal therapy and again 4 weeks after recommencement. Systemic arterial compliance (SAC), pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the aorto-femoral and femoral-dorsalis pedis regions, and hemodynamic variables were measured at baseline, and at the end of each study intervention. As a time-control, seventeen postmenopausal women (aged 63 +/- 7 years) not taking hormonal therapy (-HT group) were also investigated. RESULTS: SAC significantly decreased from 0.47 +/- 0.06 to 0.40 +/- 0.05 arbitrary compliance units (mean +/- SEM; P < 0.05) after 4 weeks withdrawal from hormonal therapy. PWV in the femoral-dorsalis pedis region was elevated significantly by the withdrawal of hormonal therapy (8.4 +/- 0.4 to 9.4 +/- 0.5 m/s; P < 0.05), but PWV in the aortofemoral region did not change. After therapy had been recommenced for 4 weeks, SAC and PWV in the femoral-dorsalis pedis region were restored to baseline values. The -HT group showed no difference in SAC or PWV, and mean arterial pressure did not change in either group throughout the study period. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that hormonal modulation of distal arterial vascular tone may account for short-term changes in arterial compliance associated with estrogen-containing hormonal therapy.
BACKGROUND: We demonstrated in a previous cross-sectional study that arterial compliance is elevated in postmenopausal women taking estrogen-containing hormonal therapy, which may partially account for the reduction in cardiovascular risk observed. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of withdrawal and recommencement of hormonal therapy, each for 4 weeks, on arterial compliance. METHODS: Seventeen postmenopausal women [aged 56 +/- 4 years (mean +/- SD)] taking long-term hormonal therapy (+HT group) were studied at baseline, 4 weeks after withdrawal of hormonal therapy and again 4 weeks after recommencement. Systemic arterial compliance (SAC), pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the aorto-femoral and femoral-dorsalis pedis regions, and hemodynamic variables were measured at baseline, and at the end of each study intervention. As a time-control, seventeen postmenopausal women (aged 63 +/- 7 years) not taking hormonal therapy (-HT group) were also investigated. RESULTS: SAC significantly decreased from 0.47 +/- 0.06 to 0.40 +/- 0.05 arbitrary compliance units (mean +/- SEM; P < 0.05) after 4 weeks withdrawal from hormonal therapy. PWV in the femoral-dorsalis pedis region was elevated significantly by the withdrawal of hormonal therapy (8.4 +/- 0.4 to 9.4 +/- 0.5 m/s; P < 0.05), but PWV in the aortofemoral region did not change. After therapy had been recommenced for 4 weeks, SAC and PWV in the femoral-dorsalis pedis region were restored to baseline values. The -HT group showed no difference in SAC or PWV, and mean arterial pressure did not change in either group throughout the study period. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that hormonal modulation of distal arterial vascular tone may account for short-term changes in arterial compliance associated with estrogen-containing hormonal therapy.
Authors: Noha H Farag; Thomas L Whitsett; Barbara S McKey; Michael F Wilson; Andrea S Vincent; Susan A Everson-Rose; William R Lovallo Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2010-06 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: N Tentolouris; G Christodoulakos; I Lambrinoudaki; E Mandalaki; C Panoulis; C Maridaki; G Creatsas; N Katsilambros Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2005-04 Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: V M Miller; D M Black; E A Brinton; M J Budoff; M I Cedars; H N Hodis; R A Lobo; J E Manson; G R Merriam; F Naftolin; N Santoro; H S Taylor; S M Harman Journal: J Cardiovasc Transl Res Date: 2009-05-22 Impact factor: 4.132
Authors: Virginia M Miller; Gregory D Jenkins; Joanna M Biernacka; John A Heit; Gordon S Huggins; Howard N Hodis; Matthew J Budoff; Rogerio A Lobo; Hugh S Taylor; JoAnn E Manson; Dennis M Black; Frederick Naftolin; S Mitchell Harman; Mariza de Andrade Journal: Physiol Genomics Date: 2015-10-27 Impact factor: 3.107
Authors: Vaidehi R Chowdhary; Cynthia S Crowson; Kimberly P Liang; Clement J Michet; Dylan V Miller; Kenneth J Warrington; Eric L Matteson Journal: Arthritis Res Ther Date: 2009-02-27 Impact factor: 5.156