TY - JOUR
T1 - Estrogen increases hyperemic microvascular blood flow velocity in postmenopausal women
AU - Peterson, Linda R.
AU - Courtois, Michael
AU - Peterson, Lowell F.
AU - Peterson, Mary R.
AU - Dávila-Román, Víctor G.
AU - Spina, Robert J.
AU - Barzilai, Benico
PY - 2000/3
Y1 - 2000/3
N2 - Background. Epidemiologic studies suggest that estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is protective against vascular disease. ERT confers this benefit by lowering lipid levels and improving arterial function. However, its effect on the microvasculature in vivo is unknown. Thug the purposes of this study were to evaluate effect of estrogen status on the hyperemic response of the microvasculature in vivo in postmenopausal women and to compare the hyperemic response of the microvasculature in postmenopausal women taking ERT with that of premenopausal women. Methods. We measured forearm microvasculature flow velocity by using a laser Doppler in a cross section of 64 healthy premenopausal and postmenopausal women 23 to 72 years old. Microvasculature blood flow velocity was measured at baseline, throughout 2 minutes of ischemia, and immediately after the ischemic period was terminated (i.e., during the peak hyperemic response). Results. The peak of the hyperemic flow velocity (PHFV) in the postmenopausal women who were taking long-term ERT at usual doses was greater than that of postmenopausal women who were not currently taking ERT (p < .0001). Moreover the PHFV of postmenopausal women taking ERT was similar to that of premenopausal women. Multivariate regression analysis showed estrogen status and baseline flow velocity to be independent predictors of PHFV. Conclusions. Current, long- term ERT at usual replacement doses is associated with improved microvascular responses in postmenopausal women, which may explain some of its beneficial vascular effects.
AB - Background. Epidemiologic studies suggest that estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is protective against vascular disease. ERT confers this benefit by lowering lipid levels and improving arterial function. However, its effect on the microvasculature in vivo is unknown. Thug the purposes of this study were to evaluate effect of estrogen status on the hyperemic response of the microvasculature in vivo in postmenopausal women and to compare the hyperemic response of the microvasculature in postmenopausal women taking ERT with that of premenopausal women. Methods. We measured forearm microvasculature flow velocity by using a laser Doppler in a cross section of 64 healthy premenopausal and postmenopausal women 23 to 72 years old. Microvasculature blood flow velocity was measured at baseline, throughout 2 minutes of ischemia, and immediately after the ischemic period was terminated (i.e., during the peak hyperemic response). Results. The peak of the hyperemic flow velocity (PHFV) in the postmenopausal women who were taking long-term ERT at usual doses was greater than that of postmenopausal women who were not currently taking ERT (p < .0001). Moreover the PHFV of postmenopausal women taking ERT was similar to that of premenopausal women. Multivariate regression analysis showed estrogen status and baseline flow velocity to be independent predictors of PHFV. Conclusions. Current, long- term ERT at usual replacement doses is associated with improved microvascular responses in postmenopausal women, which may explain some of its beneficial vascular effects.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034053765&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/gerona/55.3.M174
DO - 10.1093/gerona/55.3.M174
M3 - Article
C2 - 10795732
AN - SCOPUS:0034053765
SN - 1079-5006
VL - 55
SP - M174-M179
JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
IS - 3
ER -