Effect of hormone therapy on the elastic properties of the arteries in healthy postmenopausal women

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of continuous hormone therapy (HT) for 1 yr on pulse wave analysis and central aortic pressure in healthy postmenopausal women. Sixty-five healthy postmenopausal women were randomly allocated to receive either conjugated equine estrogens 0.625 mg plus medroxyprogesterone acetate 5 mg (CEE/MPA, Premelle 5, Wyeth — Ayerst Lab, Philadelphia, PA, no.=32) or no therapy (no.=33). Treatment was continuous, and the study period lasted 12 months. Central aortic pressure, augmentation and augmentation index (AI) were determined non-invasively using applanation tonometry. All measurements were performed at baseline and at the end of the study by the same person. Ns differences were found between baseline values and values at the end of the study in either the control or the CEE/MPA group in central systolic aortic pressure (107.0±13.1 vs 107.6±11.3 mmHg, p=0.80, and 110.8±10.8 vs 112.3±11.4 mmHg, p=0.23, respectively), augmentation (12.6±4.2 vs 11.9±4.8 mmHg, p=0.45 and 11.7±3.7 vs 12.6±4.2 mmHg, p=0.34, respectively), and percentage of AI (36.8±9.3 vs 36.3±10.3, p=0.81 and 34.1±8.9 vs 34.9±9.8, p=0.72, respectively). The results of this preliminary report suggest that HT for 1 yr does not have any significant effect on central aortic pressure and wave reflection in healthy postmenopausal women.