Annals Internal Medicine, Author Interviews, Heart Disease, Menopause / 03.08.2014
Postmenopausal Effect of Estrogen on Cardiovascualar Events and Hot Flashes
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
S. Mitchell Harman, M.D., Ph.D.
CAPT US Public Health Service, retired
Professor, Clinical Medicine, U of AZ College of Medicine
Interim Chief, Dept. of Internal Medicine
Chair, IRB Subcommitee
Phoenix VA Health Care System
Phoenix, AZ 85012-1892
Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Harman: The major findings are:
1. Neither transdermal nor oral estrogen treatment significantly accelerates or decelerates rate of change of carotid artery intimal medial thickness (CIMT) in healthy recently menopausal women.
2. Both estrogen treatments have some potentially beneficial effects on markers of CVD risk, but these differ depending on the route of estrogen delivery with improvements in LDL and HDL cholesterol seen with oral, and reduced insulin resistance with transdermal.
3. No significant effects were observed on rate of accumulation of coronary artery calcium.
4. Women reported significant relief of vasomotor (hot flush) symptoms with both estrogen treatments
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