The effect of hormone replacement therapy on carotid arteries: measurement with a high frequency ultrasound system

• Published in: Maturitas 1998-09, Vol.30 (1), p.63-68
• Main Authors: Sator, Michael O, Joura, Elmar A, Gruber, Doris M, Wieser, Fritz, Jirecek, Stefan, Tschugguel, Walter, Huber, Johannes C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Carotid Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Arteries - drug effects; Carotid artery; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dydrogesterone - pharmacology; Estradiol - analogs & derivatives; Estradiol - pharmacology; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) - pharmacology; Female; High frequency ultrasound; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Hormones. Endocrine system; HRT; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Postmenopause; Progesterone Congeners - pharmacology; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 0378-5122; 1873-4111
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-5122(98)00036-X

Objective: To evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on carotid arteries in postmenopausal women with a high frequency ultrasound system. Methods: In a clinical cross-sectional study carotid artery layers were measured in 82 postmenopausal women receiving a sequential regimen of HRT (oestradiol valerate 2 mg and dydrogesterone 10 mg) and in 70 postmenopausal women without HRT. Measurements of the left carotid artery layers (externa, media, intima) were taken with a single mechanically activated 22.5-MHz transducer with an effective band width of 8 MHz. Results: A statistically significant increase in thickness of the media layer of the carotid artery was observed in the HRT group (0.34±0.06 mm) as compared to the untreated group (0.27±0.03 mm). The media/intima ratio of the treated group was statistically significantly higher than that of the untreated group ( P