Comparison of Vascular Findings Between Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Postmenopausal Women Before and During Hormone Therapy (HRT)

We recruit 160 healthy postmenopausal women between ages 48-55. Eighty women must have severe vasomotor symptoms (at least seven severe or moderate hot flush attacks per day) whereas 80 comparators must be symptomless (no hot flushes). Thorough vascular function and risk factor assessments will be done, including clinical assessment of autonomic nervous system, endothelial function measurements, 24-hour ECG and blood pressure evaluation, and lipid and various other vascular surrogate marker measurements. In the first part of the study we compare these baseline measurements between women with or without severe vasomotor symptoms. In the second part of the study the women are randomized to receive placebo, oral estrogen, oral estrogen plus progestin or transdermal estrogen for 6 months. After the treatments the baseline assessments are repeated.

Inclusion criteria

• Postmenopausal women between ages 48-55
• Minimum of 6 months and maximum of 36 months from last menstrual period
• Postmenopausal status of these women will be confirmed by level of FSH that should exceed 30 U/l
• Eighty women must have severe vasomotor symptoms (at least seven severe or moderate hot flush attacks per day) whereas eighty comparators must be symptomless

Exclusion criteria

• smoking
• hysterectomy
• dyslipidemia
• overt hypertension (blood pressure > 140/90)
• diabetes
• any regular medication
• HT in the previous 3 months
• body mass index over 27