Effects of estradiol alone and combined with norethisterone acetate on pulse-wave velocity in hypertensive postmenopausal women |
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Authors: | C. G. Arruda J. M. Aldrighi L. A. Bortolotto I. N. Alecrin J. A. F. Ramires |
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Affiliation: | 1. Women's Health Clinic, Public Health School and Heart Institute (InCor), University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazilccag@uol.com.br;3. Women's Health Clinic, Public Health School and Heart Institute (InCor), University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil |
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Abstract: | Background.?Arterial hypertension and postmenopausal reduction of estrogen levels may be involved in modifications of the stiffness of large arteries.Objectives.?To evaluate the pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and indirectly the arterial stiffness in hypertensive postmenopausal women submitted to hormone therapy with estradiol alone or combined with norethisterone acetate.Subjects.?Forty-five hypertensive postmenopausal women were double-blindly, randomly assigned to three arms of treatment: placebo (group I); estradiol 2 mg/day (group II); or estradiol 2 mg/day and norethisterone acetate 1 mg/day (group III).Methods.?Arterial stiffness was assessed from PWV measurements of the common carotid and femoral arteries (CF-PWV) and the common carotid and radial arteries (CR-PWV) obtained using the automatic Complior® device, taken at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment.Results.?After the 12-week treatment, values of CF-PWV and CR-PWV were not significantly different (p = 0.910 and p = 0.736, respectively) among the groups. Systolic blood pressure showed a positive correlation with CF-PWV in groups II and III (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively).Conclusions. PWV and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal hypertensive women did not reduce over a 12-week treatment with estradiol alone compared with the same period of treatment with estradiol combined with norethisterone acetate. |
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Keywords: | Estrogen progestogen hypertension menopause arterial stiffness pulse-wave velocity |
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