TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of estrogen replacement therapy on plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 levels in postmenopausal women
AU - Best, Patricia J.M.
AU - Berger, Peter B.
AU - Miller, Virginia M.
AU - Lerman, Amir
PY - 1998/2/15
Y1 - 1998/2/15
N2 - Background: Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in postmenopausal women decreases cardiac mortality and improves endothelial function. The endothelium regulates vascular tone and growth by releasing such factors as nitric oxide and endothelin-1. Objective: To determine whether ERT alters the balance between the total oxidized products of nitric oxide and endothelin- 1. Design: Single-arm, before-after clinical trial. Setting: Outpatient clinical research center of an academic medical center. Patients: 15 postmenopausal women. Intervention: Treatment with 17β-estradiol for 6 months and a 10-day course of methoxyprogesterone every 3 months. Measurements: Plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 levels were measured at baseline and after 6 months of ERT. Results: The mean baseline nitric oxide level was 27.5 nmol/mL (range, 20.3 to 34.8 nmol/mL) and increased by a mean of 7.2 nmol/mL (range, 0.2 to 14.1 nmol/mL) (P = 0.04). The mean baseline plasma endothelin-1 level was 16.4 pg/mL (range, 12.0 to 20.8 pg/mL) and decreased by a mean of 3.9 pg/mL (range, 0.4 to 7.8 pg/mL) (P = 0.04). The mean baseline ratio of nitric oxide to endothelin-1 was 2.0 (range, 1.3 to 2.8) and increased by 1.2 (range, 0.1 to 2.2) (P = 0.03). Conclusion: ERT results in an increased ratio of nitric oxide to endothelin-1. This may be one mechanism by which ERT provides cardiovascular benefit.
AB - Background: Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in postmenopausal women decreases cardiac mortality and improves endothelial function. The endothelium regulates vascular tone and growth by releasing such factors as nitric oxide and endothelin-1. Objective: To determine whether ERT alters the balance between the total oxidized products of nitric oxide and endothelin- 1. Design: Single-arm, before-after clinical trial. Setting: Outpatient clinical research center of an academic medical center. Patients: 15 postmenopausal women. Intervention: Treatment with 17β-estradiol for 6 months and a 10-day course of methoxyprogesterone every 3 months. Measurements: Plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 levels were measured at baseline and after 6 months of ERT. Results: The mean baseline nitric oxide level was 27.5 nmol/mL (range, 20.3 to 34.8 nmol/mL) and increased by a mean of 7.2 nmol/mL (range, 0.2 to 14.1 nmol/mL) (P = 0.04). The mean baseline plasma endothelin-1 level was 16.4 pg/mL (range, 12.0 to 20.8 pg/mL) and decreased by a mean of 3.9 pg/mL (range, 0.4 to 7.8 pg/mL) (P = 0.04). The mean baseline ratio of nitric oxide to endothelin-1 was 2.0 (range, 1.3 to 2.8) and increased by 1.2 (range, 0.1 to 2.2) (P = 0.03). Conclusion: ERT results in an increased ratio of nitric oxide to endothelin-1. This may be one mechanism by which ERT provides cardiovascular benefit.
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U2 - 10.7326/0003-4819-128-4-199802150-00006
DO - 10.7326/0003-4819-128-4-199802150-00006
M3 - Article
C2 - 9471931
AN - SCOPUS:0032520107
SN - 0003-4819
VL - 128
SP - 285
EP - 288
JO - Annals of internal medicine
JF - Annals of internal medicine
IS - 4
ER -