Vasoreactivity in pre- and postmenopausal women: evaluation by pharmacodynamic modeling

Postmenopausal women experience an increase in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity compared with their premenopausal counterparts. This study was undertaken to develop a pharmacodynamic model to determine whether vascular reactivity in postmenopausal women differed from that in premenopausal women. Eleven subjects in each group were recruited. Graded doses of norepinephrine and insulin were infused via the dorsal hand vein. Venous diameter was measured by ultrasound. Dosage and venous diameter were fit to a Hill-type pharmacodynamic model in which norepinephrine acts as a vasoconstrictor and insulin counteracts varying fractions of norepinephrine constriction. Fitted pharmacodynamic parameters for norepinephrine did not differ uniformly between groups, but at norepinephrine infusion rates between 14 and 46 ng/mL, postmenopausal women demonstrated increased norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction. Also, the modeled maximal response to insulin (Emaxi) was greater in premenopausal women. By stepwise linear regression, maximal response to insulin was found to be related to menopausal status and diastolic blood pressure. Postmenopausal women showed differences in vasoreactivity that may have important implications in the pathogenesis of hypertension.