A preliminary study on the effect of hormone replacement therapy on peripheral flow velocity in postmenopausal women

Apart from predisposing to the formation of atherosclerosis in the coronary and cerebrovascular circulation, the menopause is also associated with an increased risk of developing peripheral vascular disease. The aim of this observational study was to determine whether the administration of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) had any effect on peripheral flow velocity in postmenopausal women. Changes in peripheral resistance were recorded in 11 healthy postmenopausal women using Doppler ultrasound. The pulsatility index (PI) of the brachial, radial, dorsalis pedis and popliteal arteries was measured before treatment and every 2 months after the commencement of HRT for 6 months. There was a significant decrease in the PI of the radial and dorsalis pedis arteries after HRT, and there were also reductions in the PI of the brachial and popliteal arteries which were not statistically significant. These changes persisted over the complete study period. Our findings suggest that the administration of HRT will have a beneficial effect on peripheral flow velocity in postmenopausal woman. These changes require confirmation in a larger controlled trial.