The Effects of Continuous Combined Oral estradiol and norethisterone on pulsatility index in internal carotid and Uterine Arteries in Early Postmenopausal Taiwanese women-A Preliminary Study

摘要

Objective: This study analyzed whether continuous combined oral estradiol and norethisterone had any effecton the pulsatility index (PI) of the internal carotid and uterine arteries in Taiwanese early postmenopausalwomen.Materials and Methods: A group of 40 healthy postmenopausal women with no history of hormone therapy(HT) participated in this study and were randomly subdivided into two groups: HT treatment group (n = 20)and placebo group (n = 20). PI was evaluated with color Doppler ultrasound at the beginning of the study andafter 4 months of HT(2 mg 17beta-estradiol+ 1 mg norethisterone acetate) or placebo.Results: There was no significant change in the PI of the internal carotid and the uterine arteries after 4 monthsof HT.Conclusion: This HT regimen showed no significant negative impact on vascular resistance in Taiwanese earlypostmenopausal women. Results are compatible with the updated recommendations on HT stating that thereis little cardiovascular risk when HT is initiated within a few years of the menopause.