Estrogen Exposure and Atherosclerosis in Postmenopausal Women

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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One hundred Spanish postmenopausal women accepted to be investigated for cardiovascular risk actors including clinical features, serum biochemical parameters, single nucleotide polymorphisms for estrogen receptor, and imaging parameters, carotid intima-media thickness (91 women) and coronary computed tomography (32 women). Multivariable analysis confirmed that both age and glucose level directly affected IMT. Estrogenic exposure, as measured by the allele associated with lower expression of the ER beta gene, was protective at the sinus and the wall. Findings at the coronary arteries, either moderate or high calcium index (CAC) and/or significant lumen stenosis were sporadic and did not allow for establishing association with any of the variables assessed.

Detailed Description
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One hundred postmenopausal women living in the urban area of Valencia were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study in which a list of clinical and analytical risk factors for cardiovascular disease were assessed. Clinical factors included weight, waist circumference, body mass index and blood pressure. Analytical parameters included lipidogram, serum glucose and insulin, thyroid hormones (TSH and total T4), vitamin D, ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein, estradiol, and osteoprotegerin. Imaging studies were performed to identify the atherosclerotic burden at the carotid artery (intima-media thickness, measured by a high frequency ultrasound probe), and the coronaries (both coronary artery calcium(CAC) score and the degree of lumen stenosis). Genetic susceptibility was measured by studying single nucleotide polymorphisms of the estrogen receptor. The independent effect of each variable was analyzed with multivariate analysis.

Official Title
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Exposure to Endogenous Estrogens and Imaging Parameters of Atherosclerosis Burden in Postmenopausal Women

Conditions
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Atherosclerosis, Menopause, Estrogens, Carotid Intima-media Thickness, Coronary Stenoses, Women

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Postmenopausal women free of previous diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, Caucasian ethnicity, urban origin, medium or medium-low socioeconomic extraction. Exclusion Criteria: Previous diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, inability to understand the purpose and conditions of the study..

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 45 Years
Maximum Age: 85 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Postmenopausal women<br>Postmenopausal women attending the outpatient service of a third level hospital for health control. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Carotid intima-media thickness. | Postmenopausal women attending clinical service for health control were measured carotid intima-media thickness by ultrasound. | 12 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in coronary calcium score. | Postmenopausal women attending clinical service for health control were measured the coronary calcium score with computed tomography. | 12 weeks | 
| Changes in coronary lumen stenosis. | Postmenopausal women attending clinical service for health control were measured the coronary lumen stenosis with computed tomography. | 12 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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atherosclerosis, endogenous estrogens, age