Study of myocardial contractility by pulsed wave doppler tissue imaging does not reveal an inotropic effect of estrogen at physiologic dose

We studied myocardial contractility by pulsed wave Doppler tissue imaging i n 6 postmenopausal healthy women. According to a crossover, double-blind pr otocol, we randomized patients to treatment with transdermal patches of est radiol-17 beta or matched placebo. Estradiol-17 beta did not modify local s ystolic and diastolic functions. Thus, at least when acutely administered, estrogen seems to be unable to determine hemodynamic changes at the myocard ial level, in opposition to what occurs in the peripheral vascular system.