Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  1999 Oct;42(10):2182-2186.

The Effect of transdermal estrogen on pulsatility index of internal carotid artery in postmenopausal women - Effect of estrogen on arterial tone

• Cho S
• Kim SR
• Lee WY
• Kho SK
• Hwang SO
• Kim MY

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the effect of transdermal estrogen on arterial tone.
METHODS
In 30 postmenopausal women, doppler ultrasound was used to assess blood flow characteristics in internal carotid arteries. As the pulsatility index(PI) represents impedance to blood flow distal to the point of sampling, pulsatility index of internal carotid artery was measured from the flow velocity waveform. Patients were studied pretreatment and at weeks 8, 12, and 24 of treatment with transdermal estradiol 50microgram/day.
RESULTS
Blood pressure was not changed during transdermal estrogen replacement therapy. Serum estradiol was increased from 13.4+/-13.7pg/ml to 55.8+/-32.8pg/ml with week 8 of treatment and it was maintained until week 24. The mean pulsatility index was fallen to 0.1+/-0.1 during week 8 of therapy and a significant reduction in PI was maintained until week 24(p=0.0001).
CONCLUSION
We believe that transdermal estrogen replacement therapy affects on the arterial tone and prevents cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.

Keyword

Transdermal estrogen replacement therapy; Doppler ultrasound; Pulsatility index

MeSH Terms

Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular Diseases
Carotid Artery, Internal*
Electric Impedance
Estradiol
Estrogen Replacement Therapy
Estrogens*
Female
Humans
Ultrasonography
Estradiol
Estrogens