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EFFECTS OF OESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE ON AGE‐RELATED CHANGES IN ARTERIES OF POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN
Author(s) -
Liang YuLu,
Teede Helena,
Shiel Louise M.,
Thomas Adrian,
Craven Robyn,
Sachithanandan Nirupa,
McNeil John J.,
Cameron James D.,
Dart Anthony,
McGrath Barry P.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
clinical and experimental pharmacology and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1440-1681
pISSN - 0305-1870
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1681.1997.tb01225.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hormone replacement therapy (female to male) , endocrinology , menopause , triglyceride , body mass index , arterial stiffness , estrogen , cholesterol , progestin , blood pressure , testosterone (patch)
SUMMARY 1. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with oestrogen or oestrogen plus progestin may have different effects on arterial structure and function. To examine this question, carotid artery intima‐medial thickness (IMT) and indices of systemic and carotid arterial compliance were measured in groups of older men, postmenopausal women not on HRT (non‐HRT) and those women on long‐term HRT with oestrogen alone (HRT‐E) or oestrogen plus progestin (HRT‐EP). 2. Sixty men, 90 postmenopausal women taking HRT and 91 not taking HRT participated in the study. The groups were similar for age, body mass index, numbers of smokers, physical activity, alcohol intake and blood pressure. 3. Plasma total cholesterol was reduced and high‐density lipo‐protein‐cholesterol was increased in the HRT group compared with the non‐HRT group; low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, triglyceride and lipoprotein (a) values were similar in these two groups. Results for HRT‐E and HRT‐EP subgroups were similar. 4. Carotid IMT was significantly reduced in the HRT group compared with men and non‐HRT groups. Results for HRT‐E and HRT‐EP subgroups were similar. 5. Mean systemic arterial compliance (SAC) was significantly greater in men than in women and was related to age; SAC was higher in both HRT‐E and HRT‐EP groups compared with the non‐HRT group. Indices of carotid stiffness were similar in men and in non‐HRT groups. The HRT‐EP group showed increased carotid stiffness compared with the HRT‐E group. 6. There is an apparent protective effect of long‐term oestrogen therapy on carotid IMT and age‐related changes in arterial stiffness. Progestin does not alter the IMT effects but may adversely influence arterial stiffness.