The relation of oxidized LDL autoantibodies and long-term hormone replacement therapy to ultrasonographically assessed atherosclerotic plaque quantity and severity in postmenopausal women
Ta. Koivu et al., The relation of oxidized LDL autoantibodies and long-term hormone replacement therapy to ultrasonographically assessed atherosclerotic plaque quantity and severity in postmenopausal women, ATHEROSCLER, 157(2), 2001, pp. 471-479
Citations number
42
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
Background: In epidemiologic studies, the incidence of atherosclerosis rise
s soon after menopause in women, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has
proved to be useful in preventing onset of clinical manifestations of the d
isease, However, it is not known how HRT affects sonographically determined
atherosclerotic severity (AS) and number of atherosclerotic plaques (NAP)
in large arteries. Further-more, it is not clear how HRT affects oxidation
of low density lipoproteins (LDL), which obviously has an important role in
the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Objectives: The purpose of the study
was to determine whether HRT has a beneficial effect on sonographically det
er-mined AS and NAP in large arteries of 101 postmenopausal women compared
to 40 controls without HRT. We also studied the interaction of HRT and anti
bodies against oxidized LDL on AS and NAP progression. Results: Estradiol v
alerate alone, combined estradiol valerate-levonorgestrel and combined estr
adiol valerate-medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy are each associated with
lower NAP and AS as compared to controls without HRT. In a multiple regres
sion model explaining NAP in the whole study population, the strongest pred
ictors were HRT (P = 0.0006) and copper-oxidized LDL cholesterol autoantibo
dies (P = 0.0491). Discussion: Our findings indicate that postmenopausal HR
T is associated with a lower total number of atherosclerotic plaques and le
ss severe atherosclerotic lesions, as compared to controls without HRT, and
that this outcome may be associated with the effect of HRT on LDL choleste
rol oxidation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.