Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum Anabilim Dalı, İZMİR
Ege Ãœniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Klinik Biyokimya Bilim Dalı, Ä°ZMÄ°R Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used in the treatment of vasomotor and vaginal symptoms seen in the postmenopausal women, has shown to have beneficial effects in osteoporosis and atherosclerosis and also, on changes in cognitive function and Alzheimer’s disease observed in the elderly women.
Nitric oxide is an endothelial-derived vasodilation factor, posing an important role in the maintenance of endothelial wall, and in the protective mechanisms of endothelial injury. Hormone replacement therapy is thought to have a cardioprotective role in the post-menopausal women via endothelial derived nitric oxide and by exerting changes in the lipid profile.
To evaluate the effect of short term HRT on nitric oxide levels and lipid profile in healthy postmenopausal women, 20 subjects were given estradiol-17-valerat and cyproterone acetate in a combined fashion. Before and after treatment values were compared with paired Student’s t test and p<0.05 was considered assignificant.
At the end of three months, serum nitric oxide levels were increased significantly (p<0.001). There were no changes in either total cholesterol nor triglyceride levels. After HRT, high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) levels were increased (p=0.017), with a parallel increase observed in apolipoprotein A-I levels (p=0.041). Low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein B levels were significantly reduced after HRT (p=0.013, p=0.002, respectively).
We conclude that short term HRT increase nitric oxide levels and this may be the mechanism of improved endothelial function, and its effects on lipid metabolism reduces the risk factors known for atherosclerosis. Keywords : Hormone Replacement Therapy, Nitric Oxide, Atherosclerosis