Effect of Estradiol+Drospirenone Versus Estradiol+MPA on Endothelial Function

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy female postmenopausal volunteers, as defined by absence of menses for at least 12 months and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) 30 IU/L;
• Age 45 to 75 years;
• Systolic blood pressure <140 and >90 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure <90 and >60 mmHg at the screening visit;
• No personal history of diabetes;
• Body mass index < 30 kg/m2;
• No clinically significant abnormalities on screening tests (complete blood count, serum electrolytes, liver enzymes, thyroid stimulating hormone, urinalysis, and electrocardiogram).

Exclusion criteria

• Current smoking, defined as smoking within the 12 months before the screening visit;
• Alcohol intake >1 beverage per night or history of alcohol abuse;
• Current or past recreational drug use;
• Personal history of hypertension, cardiovascular disease (coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, stroke, transient ischemic attack, or intermittent claudication), hyperlipidemia, diabetes (defined as a fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL), kidney disease, liver disease, venous or arterial thromboembolic disease, adrenal insufficiency, depression, or illness requiring overnight hospitalization in the past 6 months;
• Risk factors for arterial or venous thromboembolism;
• Personal history of breast cancer or any other type of cancer;
• Personal history of endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial cancer, or unexplained vaginal bleeding;
• History of cervical cancer or abnormal pap smear
• Prescription or herbal medication use, excluding thyroid hormone supplementation;
• Ischemic changes on resting electrocardiogram;
• Serum creatinine ≥ 1.3 mg/dL.
• Serum potassium level > 5.0 mmol/L;
• Known hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs;
• Other active medical problems detected by examination or laboratory testing, except for treated hypothyroidism.
• Pregnancy