Venous endothelial function in postmenopausal women after six months of tibolone therapy

Maturitas. 2001 Jul 25;39(1):63-70. doi: 10.1016/s0378-5122(00)00217-6.

Abstract

Study objective: To test venous endothelial function in long-term climateric therapy with tibolone.

Design: Measurement of dorsal hand-vein diameter by venous occlusion plethysmography during infusion of norepinephrine (NE), bradykinin (BK), NG-monomethyl L-arginine (L-NMMA) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP).

Setting: Plethysmography and Menopause Units. University Hospital Valdecilla. Santander. Spain.

Patients: Eleven postmenopausal women having continuous treatment with oral tibolone (2.5 mg/day) for 6 months.

Interventions: Three plethysmography studies were made: at baseline, and at three and six months of treatment.

Main outcome measures: Dorsal hand-vein diameter measured by venous occlusion plethysmography during infusion of NE, BK, L-NMMA and SNP.

Results: (a) Baseline study: maximum dilation with BK was 54.2+/-10.2%. (b) Three-month study: BK dilation of 71.5+/-11.9%, with a significant increase of 17.3% (P=0.019) compared with baseline. (c) Six-month study: BK dilation of 77.5+/-11.9%, with a significant increase 23.3% (P=0.002) compared with baseline. Maximal vasodilation was reached with SNP in the three studies and L-NMMA infusion has a similar vasoconstrictor response in the three studies.

Conclusions: Long-term climateric therapy with tibolone improves vein endothelium-dependent vasodilation suggesting a positive impact of this drug on endothelial function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Anabolic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anabolic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antihypertensive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antihypertensive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Hand / blood supply*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Norpregnenes / administration & dosage
  • Norpregnenes / pharmacology*
  • Plethysmography
  • Postmenopause*
  • Vasodilation / drug effects*

Substances

  • Anabolic Agents
  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Norpregnenes
  • tibolone