Effects of long-term hormone replacement therapy on arterial wall thickness, lipids and lipoproteins, fibrinogen and antithrombin III

Abstract

We aimed to study the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in menopausal women on lipoproteins, blood coagulation, arterial blood pressure and markers of atherosclerosis. A total of 186 postmenopausal women were studied; 98 used HRT (0.625 mg 17 beta-estradiol plus 10 mg progestin) and were followed for 48 months, and were matched with 98 women without therapy. Low-density lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, antithrombin III, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure and intima-media thickness were measured at 6, 12, 24, 38 and 48 months. In users of HRT, we found a significant reduction of the lipoproteins, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic pressures and intima-media thickness; however, we found an increase in high-density lipoproteins and anthitrombin III in comparison with non-users. This study has shown a protective effect of HRT on such risk factors and on certain markers of atherosclerosis.