Estrogen replacement therapy and cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. II. Mechanisms of action of estrogens
Sitruk-Ware, R.
Presse Medicale 19(29): 1364-1367
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0755-4982 PMID: 2146610 Document Number: 365212
Recent epidemiological studies indicate that replacement therapy with oestrogens reduces the cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women. This protective effect has been ascribed to oestrogen-induced metabolic variations, and notably to the rise of HDL-cholesterol levels observed after oral administration of oestrogens. Recently, long term studies have shown that parenterally administered oestrogens (implants, percutaneous or transdermal administration) have the same effect on blood lipid profile as oral oestrogen over a period of 6 months or more. Factors other than blood lipid changes should be studied in an attempt to elucidate the exact mechanism through which postmenopausal oestrogen administration may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.