The potential of SERMs for reducing the risk of coronary heart disease

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) represent a growing class of compounds that act as either estrogen receptor agonist or antagonists in a tissue-selective manner. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that estrogen has favorable effects on serum lipids and might affect processes a t the blood vessel wall to inhibit atherosclerosis. SERMs with the appropri ate selectivity profile offer the opportunity to dissociate these favorable cardiovascular effects of estrogen from its unfavorable stimulatory effect s on the breast and uterus. This article reviews the data from both animal and human studies that document the cardiovascular effects of SERMs and dis cusses the clinical implications of these results.