Acute effects of transdermal 17beta-estradiol on hemostatic variables after 24-hour treatment

The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of transdermal 17beta-estradiol (Estraderm) on plasma levels of coagulatory and fibrinolytic factors in postmenopausal normotensive and hypertensive women. Eleven normotensive and 13 hypertensive women were included in this placebo-controlled crossover study. In a randomized order each subject was treated with a patch of 100 microg 17beta-estradiol or placebo for 24 hours. Serum levels of tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA) activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor-I (PAI-1) activity, tPA antigen, PAI-I antigen, FVII, FX, and fibrinogen were assayed after both treatments. There was no significant difference in serum levels of hemostatic variables after treatment with estrogen compared to levels after placebo treatment in either of the groups. Nor was there any measurable difference when comparing hypertensive and normotensive subjects.