[Estrogen therapy effect in arterial tension in postmenopausal women]

Experimental studies have shown that estrogens prevent deposit of cholesterol in arteries, have effect upon the endothelial function (to prevent contraction of smooth muscle), and enlarge the vascular tone or vasodilatation.

To determine changes in arterial pressure before and after use of estrogen-therapy.

A descriptive study was carried out follow-up during 8 weeks in Obstetric and Gynecologic Hospital (No. 3), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. We included 250 postmenopausal women with prescribed estrogen-therapy. Arterial tension was determined before and after therapy; descriptive statistics and student t test (value, p < 0.05) was employed.

Menopause was present in a mean of age of 46 +/- 4.2 years (M +/- SD); height was 1.53 +/- 0.6 m; corporal weight, 60.9 +/- 10.2 kg, and hip-waist index was 81.3 +/- 5.4. Mean arterial tension before estrogen-therapy was 90.2 +/- 10.0 mmHg, and after, 85.7 +/- 9.6 mmHg (p < 0.05).

There is evidence of estrogen-therapy vasodilatation and hypotension effects, with clinical changes statistically significative; however is recommendable that such estrogenic therapy must be individualized and attended in slender form. Hormonal therapy (estrogens) has benefits in arterial tension of postmenopausal women.