Haemodynamic and hormonal effects of short-term oestradiol treatment in postmenopausal women

Haemodynamic changes during a 3-wk treatment with oestradiol valerianate (2 mg/day orally) were studied in 12 postmenopausal women by isotope 113Inm radiocardiography. Systolic blood pressure measured in the supine position decreased during oestradiol treatment by 3% (P less than 0.05) and the diastolic blood pressure decreased by 4% (P less than 0.01). The heart rate decreased by 15% (P less than 0.001). Blood volume increased during oestrogen treatment by 5% (P less than 0.05) whereas cardiac output decreased by 9% (P less than 0.05). Stroke volume increased by 13% (P less than 0.001) due to concomitant decrease in heart rate. Changes in plasma oestrone and oestradiol concentrations during oestradiol valerianate substitution showed a positive correlation with the changes of blood volume.