The endothelium regulates vascular tone and growth by releasing such factors as nitric oxide and endothelin-1. This may be one mechanism by which ERT provides cardiovascular benefit. Ann Intern Med. From the Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota. For current author addresses, see end of text.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of illness and death in women.
Both endogenous substances and physical forces, such as shear stress, stimulate production of nitric oxide. Alternatively, endothelin-1 opposes the effects of nitric oxide. We tested the hypothesis that ERT increases the ratio between plasma total oxidized products of nitric oxide and circulating endothelin-1. After the institutional review board approved our study, participants were recruited by local announcements. All participants gave informed consent.