Increased endometrial thickness in women with hypertension

OBJECTIVE: We noticed an increase in endometrial thickness in women with hy pertension who were treated with a combination of medications, including be ta-blockers. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the endometri um of hypertensive women is thicker than that of healthy women and to deter mine whether endometrial thickening in hypertensive women is directly relat ed to the antihypertensive beta-blocker treatment. STUDY DESIGN: We compared 3 groups of postmenopausal patients as follows: ( 1) women with a history of essential hypertension treated with a combinatio n of medications, including beta-blockers; (2) women with a history of hype rtension treated with a combination of medications that did not include bet a-blockers; and (3) healthy women without hypertension. All patients were i nterviewed and examined, blood tests were performed, and endometrial thickn ess in the anterior-posterior diameter was measured by vaginal ultrasonogra phy. Among the exclusion criteria were diabetes or an abnormal fasting bloo d glucose level, obesity hormonal medication or replacement hormonal therap y during the previous 6 months, and a history of hormonal disturbances, inf ertility, or polycystic ovary syndrome. RESULTS: Of 45 hypertensive women enrolled in the study, 22 were treated wi th a beta-blocker combination medication and 23 were treated with other ant ihypertensive medications. They were compared with 25 healthy women. There was no statistically significant difference in endometrial thickness betwee n women treated with medications, including beta-blockers, and those who we re treated with other hypotensive agents. Twenty percent of women with hype rtension and none of the healthy women had endometrium >5 mm thick (P < .01 7; odds ratio, 8.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-infinity). CONCLUSION: Twenty percent of hypertensive postmenopausal women were found to have increased endometrial thickness; However, we were unable to substan tiate an association between the type of treatment administered, whether be ta-blockers were included, and the increase in endometrial thickness.