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(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2008;28:348.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.

Clinical and Population Studies

Time Since Menopause Influences the Acute and Chronic Effect of Estrogens on Endothelial Function

Cristiana Vitale; Giuseppe Mercuro; Elena Cerquetani; Giuseppe Marazzi; Roberto Patrizi; Francesco Pelliccia; Maurizio Volterrani; Massimo Fini; Peter Collins; Giuseppe M.C. Rosano

From the Department of Internal Medicine (C.V., G. Marazzi, M.V., M.F., G.M.C.R.), IRCCS San Raffaele, Roma, Italy; the Department of Cardiovascular and Neurological Sciences (G. Mercuro), University of Cagliari, Italy; the Department of Cardiology (E.C.), Policlinico Luigi Di Liegro, Roma, Italy; the Department of Cardiology (R.P.), Policlinico Casilino, Roma, Italy; the Department of Cardiac Medicine (P.C.), Imperial College London, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK; and the Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy (F.P.).

Correspondence to Cristiana Vitale, MD, IRCCS San Raffaele, Via Della Pisana 235, Roma 00163, Italy. E-mail cristiana.vitale{at}sanraffaele.it

Abstract

Objective— We evaluated whether time since menopause influences the acute and chronic effect of Estradiol (E) on vascular endothelial function.

Methods and Results— We studied flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in 134 postmenopausal women (PMW) before and after acute and chronic E administration. At baseline FMD was inversely associated to time from menopause (r=–0.67, P<0.001) and age (r=–0.43, P<0.05), in exogenous estrogen naïve but not in previous users. Acute and chronic E improved endothelial function in all women. E administration improved FMD more in women within 5 years since menopause than in those with more than 5 years since menopause (76% and 74% versus 45% and 48%, acute and chronic E, respectively; P<0.05). Among women with more than 5 years since menopause acute and chronic E increased FMD more in previous E users than in nonusers (59% and 63% versus 31% and 38%, acute and chronic E, respectively; P<0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that time from menopause was a predictor of impaired FMD and of its improvement after acute and chronic E.

Conclusions— Time from menopause influences FMD in PMW. The acute and chronic effect of E on FMD is time dependent and is reduced by a longer time since menopause.

To evaluate whether time since menopause influences the effect of Estradiol on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). Estradiol improved endothelial function in all women and its effect was dependent on time since menopause. The acute and chronic effect of Estradiol on FMD is reduced by a longer time since menopause.

Key Words: endothelium • endothelial function • cardiovascular disease prevention • risk factors • estrogen