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(Circulation. 2002;105:e9069.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.

Cardiovascular News

Ruth SoRelle, MPH

Circulation Newswriter

In This Week’s Circulation: Microcirculatory Function in Postmenopausal Women and the Effect of Long-Term and Short-Term Estrogen Administration

In this week’s issue of Circulation, researchers from the Departments of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California at Los Angeles describe measurements of myocardial blood flow with the positron emission tomography scanner in 54 postmenopausal women without coronary artery disease (CAD). Of these, 31 were on long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and 23 were not (Circulation. 2002;105:425–430).

In their study, which measured myocardial blood flow during cold pressor testing and during dipyridamole, the researchers compared the results to those of 12 young, healthy premenopausal women. In the women not on HRT, measurements were repeated after they received 25 mg of conjugated equine estrogens intravenously.

The researchers, led by Heinrich R. Schelbert, MD, PhD, determined that menopause is associated with an abnormal cold pressor test as an indirect measure of endothelial function. The abnormal test can be reversed by long-term HRT, but only when the women have no other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, according to the researchers. They said their results indicate that "Estrogen administration may therefore be effective in primary prevention of CAD in premenopausal women without RFs [risk factors] for CAD."

They continued, "These findings are in line with epidemiological studies where HRT reduced the risk of cardiovascular morbidity in postmenopausal women without RF when compared with those with documented CAD and suggests that estrogen replacement therapy, along with a progestin, may be useful for primary prevention of CAD in women without RF for CAD. Further studies are . . . [Full Text of this Article]